If you like fish and wildlife content, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on future videos. A Washington state fish and wildlife officer was patrolling an area closed to fishing due to its proximity to a hatchery. As he made his way down a footpath, he found four Chinook salmon on a stringer. He began searching the area and he heard someone running through thick brush followed by a loud splash. He continued searching the area and found another stringer with three more Chinook salmon. Police. Come out with your hands up, now. There's someone out here and they might be trying to make their way back. For information, they're going to be wet. Police. Come out with your hands up, now. I know you're out here and another unit's at the hatchery, so I don't know where you're going to go. Show yourself. All right, I'm going to take your backpack and all your gear and all your fish. Hey, how you doing? Good. I got a bunch of fish and wildlife people walking back off right here, guys. Down there in the water. I might be walking through this stuff. Any guys over there? Okay. I fell in at the slope while I was trying to get a drink. All right. Fell in at the slope while you're trying to get a drink. >> by. I tried climbing down that little steep side on the other side of the trail. Okay. I just was hanging there and I tried dropping and I slipped. I I got soaked, I mean, it was you know, miserable. All right. I'm walking back down. I wasn't All right. I'm not doing anything else out here. Okay. What's in your pocket there? >> Oh, right here? I found this on the road. Found that on the road? >> On the right there on the on the shoulder right down there on the bridge. >> That's a fish stringer. No, it's not. I don't think. I just found it on the road. I picked it up. I collect things like this. Okay, can I see that? >> Yeah, absolutely. I'm not I'm not a fisherman. I don't even like fishing. Why is this wet? Cuz my shirt I'm soaked. Okay. Man, I put it feel my pockets inside out wet. I got The only thing I got I got my pocket the pocket knife. And uh that's all I got. All right, do you have your ID on you? >> Uh I don't have my ID here. >> Okay, what's your name? My name's James. Yeah, I got a Yeah. In the [ __ ] morning as it is. >> I got you, James. Got you. How are you doing? Good, I'm I'm Officer Wadman. Hi. You said your last name is All right. Yeah, I don't know what you guys are thinking I did, but I haven't done nothing today. All right, it's just it's just weird uh that uh there was someone down by the hatchery below the hatchery snagging fish. >> Okay, but it wasn't me. And they ran from me in the middle of the dark. It wasn't me. Well, just let me just let me speak. Well, I know, but I mean my They they ran from me in the middle of the night or in the middle of dark dark out. I hear a crash and a big splash, okay? Yeah. Don't see anybody. You come walking up the road from way up there. from from the hatchery. >> No, from the Someone someone saw you walking up this hill on the side of 101. I was on this road going And you're soaking wet. >> I'm soaking wet cuz I fell in at the scope factory trying to get a drink of water, man. I mean, I'm not trying to trying to sugarcoat nothing here. I'm not I don't I'm not stupid. I don't have any reason to be fishing. I don't even like fish. So, I mean, it's not >> Okay. It's not me, man. I mean, I wasn't the guy, dude. If it was, I mean, I would obviously I don't know. It wasn't me, man. I'm sorry. I mean, I know you you think what you want, but I mean, I didn't do nothing wrong. I'm trying to tell you just tell me the truth? >> I am telling you the truth. No, you're not. >> Yes, I am. No, you're not. I am, too. No, you're not. Okay, well, I don't understand why you're calling me a liar. I'm not a liar. Okay. Just It's too many circumstances to be happening at once. Man, I'm telling you right now, I'm having a bad day and this is I'm just walking back to town. Where do you Where do you live? I live on 6th I think I don't know exactly. I'm just 1 mile out of Arcadia from Cheboygan. Going out of Arcadia. 1 mile to the top of the hill. I live with the Hewitts. I just moved in there. Okay. So, why were you What brought you all the way down here? Oh, I was down at the woods for it. I was going to work. I got in an argument. I got They turned around and bring me back in and shouting the [ __ ] off. I hopped out there and walked right there before the Skog pulled out before a little bridge before I started walking back. I just Where do you work at? Uh I do landscape. You do landscape for who? Well, for several people, but I was just going to do a side job with my friend Dax. Okay. Yeah, this morning. And I don't know, you know, why I'm doing to a guy for fishing. I don't fish. I don't even like fishing. Why are your hands all muddy? Man, I just You mind setting that stuff down and just showing me your palms real quick? Yeah, no problem. I just scratched and pawed my way out of the [ __ ] water to get out. I fell in at the bridge, man. It was like on the other side of the Skog. I was just trying to go down and get a drink and I was hanging there. I was going to drop and land. I fell off and in. I pawed my way out of there, man. I mean, look at I'm telling you, it was a nightmare. I'm having a rough go of this. What? To get a drink from the Skog River? Why would you hang from the bridge >> Because I wanted to get Just listen to me. There's multiple roads >> Okay, well, the one trail I was on on the side of the There was a nice trail heading down until it was is all I'm saying. And I hopped down. I thought I could make the jump. If I would have jumped, I had a landing pad 3 ft wide at the bottom there. A little bank and then I could have went under the bridge and got my drink. Okay, so you were on the path. Yeah, I was on the walking path through. Okay. And then you decided to hang from the bridge >> Well, I wasn't decided to hang. I was going to jump off there and it didn't go good. I'm just saying it's not good. I pawed my way out of there and got scratched up. I went up the other side, climbed up, crossed the road and went across the bridge to get out of there and it wasn't it wasn't easy. I mean I tell you I used everything I had. I'm doing miserable. I'm soaked. All right, hang tight in front of my truck for me. You're detained you're not free to leave yet, okay? I don't believe his story for a second. Oh no, no. That's a fish stringer right there. Yeah. Ask him if that's his backpack. I mean what's he going to say? No. It's not my backpack. It's definitely a fish stringer, dude. I just can't see any blood on it or anything like that. It's cuz he hadn't used it yet. Hey James, can you come here for a second? Is that your backpack? No. Where's your wallet? I don't I don't own a wallet. I I've just got I applied for a new ID just uh it's supposed to be in the mail. It's supposed to be coming. I just moved into the house I'm in now. I've been homeless for 12 years. Uh I first time I've been in a house in 12 years right now. Two weeks in, they made me go get my ID right away. I don't have an ID. Okay. Can you do me a favor and just empty your pockets? >> Yeah, I'm I mean I didn't do anything like of the sort go fishing. I'm not even a fisherman. That's it. That's all I got. Can I take a look at this? >> Is that it? Yeah, no problem. Yeah, I don't fish. I don't even like fish. Well, you don't have to like fish to kill fish. >> Oh, yeah. Well, I'm not going to kill any fish for no reason. I mean, I write I mean, I don't even have a vehicle right now, you know? It's It's not like I don't drive a car. I don't have a license. So, how did you get to How did you get to Hoodsport? >> I was with my friend Dax. We're riding in his Ford van this morning. We got in a [ __ ] argument and the guy's just a spaz case. I said, "Fuck you, man. Take me home." He said, "Fine." Told me I cost him a [ __ ] good in part of the morning. He got a little little just yelling and screaming match. I just said, "I can't take it." I got out and started walking. Who is that? Dax. Dax. >> Yeah, I don't know his last name. You don't know his last name, but you're buddies and you're working with him. >> one of my buddies. I met him at a barbecue 2 days ago. I was having We were at a party on Mill Creek Road and I met him there and uh he offered me some work and I needed it, so. I mean, I still need the work. It's not like I don't, but Yeah, no, I'm not I'm not out there fishing or doing nothing like that. Sorry, I mean, I'm I promise, I mean, I'm I'm not the guy. I'm not I wish I was. I could just be having a bad day and uh I don't know how to even get it, you know? I just want to let you know I'm warning you guys. I just feel like I got a long walk, but All right. I'm not a fisherman. Can I Can I take another look at your hands? >> Yeah, absolutely. I'm a working man, I mean Yeah. I don't have any fish on me or nothing like that. I'm not fishing. I mean, I don't fish. So, I mean All right. I'm sorry. I I I've done I wish I could help you, man. I mean, I I don't want to be accused of something I'm not doing. I'm throwing something. I do everything I can to stay as good as I can and I will not I'm not going to be out there doing something right now at this point in my life. I apologize for anything. Apologize for anything, any inconvenience. Okay. You can check me out. I'm not I've never got I don't get my fishing license. I don't do anything like that. I mean, I don't know why You've never had any prior violations with the salmon. Uh no, I haven't. And I don't I I try to stay law- law- law- abiding. All right. I mean that, so. Okay. Go ahead and you can take your knife and stand in back in front of the truck for me. You good to go? Yeah. I did. Hey, thanks for your patience. And uh I'm sorry, guys. I got Have a good day, James. Have a good day, guys. The officers later searched the backpack and found additional evidence that it was used while the salmon were being harvested and discovered a Walmart receipt. They pulled Walmart surveillance footage and observed the suspect purchasing the items contained in the backpack while being in possession of the bag. This is the house he described when he was talking to us. Said the red house on top of the hill. Hello. Hey, how's it going, guys? Hey. How's it going? Good. I'm Officer Schrader, Fish and Wildlife Police. Just let you know my I'm Officer Schrader, Fish and Wildlife Police. I'm Schrader. Oh, appreciate that. >> Schrader. Yes, sir. Yeah, how you doing? Good. Um just let you know our body cameras are on. Is Does James still live here? Nope. Nope. Hey, he comes by here, helps helps me out once in a while. That's about it. Okay. All right, do you know where he lives? He said he lived up here. I know he lives He lived right across from uh across from uh Wallace and Ealing. Over there in that field over there on the other side right on the power lines. Okay. >> over there. He He stays here once in a while, but he doesn't actually live here. Okay, he said he he said he was living here. Yeah. No, he's not. His DWR return comes back here. I haven't seen him for days. here yesterday or the day yesterday evening? >> Was it Yeah, yesterday evening, but he's been gone for I don't know how long. Okay. Um do you have his contact number by chance or his phone? Uh nope. I got a phone number, but I heard I was told that he lost it. You guys got it or something. Oh, he told you we got it? Yeah. Oh, okay. That's what he told me. I tried to call him the other day and Uh he told you that yesterday? Yeah, when he came Actually, yeah, yesterday evening. Okay. Um What's your name? My name is Bill. Yeah. Uh I appreciate that. Um appreciate the information also. Would you by chance be able to give this to him? Does he come around that often? Well, I'm sure I'll see him with it. If not within a couple of days, I usually see him every If he disappears in a couple of days, he comes back. >> Okay, it's just the return of service. Um the items that we took from his backpack and his backpack, okay. Um but if you would be able to uh Do you have your pen, Nelson? >> Yeah. I'll make a make a edit to this real quick. Okay. Um yeah, if you could just go ahead and give that to him, that'd be fantastic. Just so uh make sure he gets it. >> All right. Yeah, if he comes back if he comes over every couple of days or so, that'd be great. He does. Okay. And then just that's it? Yeah, are you guys related to him at all or just friends? >> I'm an acquaintance. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Okay. I just met him like the last night or a year ago. Oh, okay. Trying to help me out with his gears. Well. All right. Okay. Cool. Did he mention anything else to you or No, he just said that you guys had his backpack or he thought you had his backpack or something. Okay. And then had him handcuffed for a while or something. Oh, well, we didn't handcuff him or anything. I don't I didn't know if I should or We were just talking to him. Okay. What to believe? >> [laughter] >> Well, I have one for you. Yeah, so yeah, just tell him we got his stuff and >> Okay. Um uh if he has any questions, the the search warrant information is posted right Yeah. Here, yep, 25-73 and that would be in reference to the case number and All that stuff, yeah. So, is your name on here at all? What's that? Is your name on here at all? Yes, so I signed the bottom of it or the back of it here. Um, right there. Perfect. Yep. Good deal. All right. >> All right, you guys take it easy. Thanks, you too. >> do know it's hectic out here. >> [laughter] >> All right, thank you so much. Yeah, good one. According to online reports, the agency intended to refer the charges to the local prosecutor's office. The charges included recreational fishing in the first degree for fishing in a closed area and being over limit, wastage of salmon, failure to submit license and catch for inspection, and fishing without a license. After failing to find any court records online, we called the prosecutor's office and we were told that they have no record of this incident ever being forwarded to them. If you like this video and want to see it, subscribe to Arrest Cam. As always, thanks for [music] watching. >> [music] [music]