Lopez man charged with burglary, imprisonment and malicious mischief

Darren Adam Hayes, 57, of Lopez, was charged in the San Juan County Superior Court on Feb. 21 for burglary in the first degree, residential burglary in the second degree, malicious mischief in the second degree and two counts of unlawful imprisonment.

According to the determination for probable cause, a deputy was called to investigate a disturbance on Feb. 18 at an inn on Lopez Island, possibly involving a person armed with a weapon. The reporting party told dispatch he heard a male voice yelling and stating that he had someone at gunpoint.

The deputy arrived at approximately 5 a.m. and was contacted by two witnesses who were fleeing the scene. The witnesses said an unknown man had forced his way into one of the rooms. The suspect was described as a white man with dirt and blood on him. The witnesses were unsure of whether the suspect was still in the room. While awaiting backup, the deputy quickly surveyed the inn and saw bloody footprints throughout.

When additional deputies arrived, they searched the common areas of the inn and heard from another guest who believed the suspect was now in a different room. Upon entering the room, deputies found a shattered window and the area ransacked. They located Hayes lying on the floor inside of the closed closet.

In his left hand was a folding knife with the blade open. According to the deputies, he obeyed verbal commands and was arrested without further incident. The occupants of the room had barricaded themselves in the bathroom.

Using blood smears as evidence, deputies deduced that Hayes had allegedly entered through the front door of the inn, forced his way into room four, exited through the room’s bathroom window, then re-entered the inn into room six via a broken window.

There is an estimated $1,500 worth of damage. According to documents, Hayes was not a guest at the inn.

Bail was set for $250,000, and criminal history is being compiled to be presented at arraignment, set for 9:30 a.m. on March 4.