If you like fish and wildlife content, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on future videos. Officers with Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife received a call in reference to people trespassing and poaching oysters from private property. As the officer attempted to make contact, they turned off their lights and began driving away at a high rate of speed. >> Officer Trader, Fish and Wildlife Police. >> Right. Right. >> Hey, what were you doing with those buckets right there? Um, we were to we were trying to go down and get a uh couple oysters, but that guy over there, he came out running out and yelled at us, so we just >> Okay, >> we booked. >> All right. Uh, do you mind if I take a look at your oysters? >> You got you got your shellfish license on you? >> We didn't get We didn't get any. >> Okay. You got you got a shellfish license on you? >> Um, >> just let you know my body camera's on. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Let me >> That's all right. Well, >> let me grab a wall. >> Okay. Tony, [sighs] >> we're on our way up to Brimton and up to Port Angeles. >> Why'd you turn your lights off and dip? >> Did I? >> Yeah. >> I didn't turn them off. >> I thought they were on. >> Yeah. >> No, I I don't think I did. >> No, your rear lights were on and then you turned them off and turned into here. >> I have a faulty tail lights. >> Okay. All right. You see it? I mean, is it in there, baby? >> It's just a bunch of crap in there. We're going to My uncle just had his legs amputated, so we're going to watch his house for him. >> All right. >> It's a bad situation. >> Why don't you go ahead and open your trunk so I can see the buckets that you put in your your trunk, >> right? >> You got an idea on you. >> That's what I'm looking at my wallet. >> Okay. I don't know. I had it earlier, but >> check it. >> I already check my buckets, baby. >> Do you have an ID on you, too? >> Um, yes, I do. >> Fishing license or anything? >> I know my ID number if you want that. >> No, an ID would be great. >> I have it. Go ahead and show me that bucket real quick. >> Keep stuck in ignition. >> What's your name? >> Joe. >> Joe. >> Yes. Joe or Joseph? >> Joe. >> Joe. >> I can't get my key out of ignition. >> Joe, what's your last name? >> Oh, [clears throat] you have your ID on you? [sighs] >> No. >> No. Cuz earlier when me and Joey went to town, I had to take it in with me. I had in an envelope. Go ahead and spell your last name for me. >> Middle initial. >> Not in there. >> Had it before. Me and my son went down earlier. And >> what's your middle initial, Joe? >> Oh, E. >> E. >> Yes. What's your date of birth? >> 10. >> That's not it. >> Who else was with you? >> I'm my ID right there. >> I know. Uh the the guy that yelled at you >> called in and said there was three people on his beach. >> Who else was with you? >> It was I don't think there was three people. It was just me and her. We just >> All right. Well, I got to I got to clarify. Why don't you just go and show me the buckets? Make sure you don't have any oysters. >> I have an issue with my ignition. >> Can you pop the trunk with the lever or anything? >> Okay. Here. It's not I had stuck in here the other day. Two freaking days. All right, go ahead and work on that. >> Show me what's in this orange bucket right here if you don't mind. >> And in that plastic bag. Pull that plastic bag out. Okay, >> I'll be right back. Go ahead and keep working on getting your trunk open. I just I'm just walking back there. I'm sorry. Okay, I'll try as soon as I can. Oh, that's it. That's all I get to leave. You get the trunk open. >> No, my key is stuck. I mean, it's I I have this problem all the time and it just it will not come out of here. >> You don't have a spare key or anything for your car? >> No, this is it. >> All right. Well, what's your what's your legal first name? >> Jose. >> Jose. >> I go by Joe. It's it's Joe. It should be Joe on on uh >> on your ID. >> Yeah. Well, no. home ID. It's It's It's Jose. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Jose E. >> Jose. That's a messed up name. >> Okay. Uh, what would it say on your driver's license? >> Jose. Yes. >> Okay. All right. Keep working on your key. We got We got to find out what's in your those buckets there. >> Are you out of Oregon? >> Yes. >> Okay. Do you belong to the Skookcomish Nation >> by chance? Do you belong to the Skookcomish Nation? >> Um, I have family here. >> You have family here? >> Yes. >> Okay. But do you are you a tribal member? >> I don't live up here, so no. Okay. All right. I was just making sure. >> Is this your car or hers? >> It's mine. >> It's yours. >> Yeah. Okay. >> It's my crap car. >> Okay. >> And we were making we were coming up. My uncle's in Seattle hospital and clean hands. So we we're coming going up to his house cuz we got to go up there to check on he's got some people that have been burglarizing his house. >> Okay. So, we're going up there to lock the doors and post up. It gets out. And >> do your feet Do your seats fold down? Your back seats? No, they don't fold down at all. >> No, they have the same stupid thing there, a lock on it. Right there. All right. Well, we got time. Keep working on your getting your key out. >> Pry bar, crowbar, or anything. I break my trunk. >> I don't. My uncle's my uncle is he's is a bad he's had a social worker's call for the last two days to his roommate up there. His roommate hasn't has been awall or not around and so he can't get released out of the hospital until somebody's up there to basically for the social worker to >> release him. >> I do. Yes. >> And yeah. >> Okay. >> If you got a crowbar, I'll break this trunk. I don't care. >> I don't have a crowbar, unfortunately. I don't >> require. >> All right, let me let me check a couple other things. All right, keep working on your key. >> So, whatever he's got, he it's all illegal. Illegal. >> Yeah, he Well, it's all in his trunk. He's can't get the key out of his ignition. So, um, but the RP just sent me a picture of a bucket with oysters and rake and shovel in there. Um, you know, like in a bucket. >> Yeah. >> Next to where this car was parked. So, >> no dice, Joe. >> No. Come out. >> I need you to keep trying, man. >> Last time this happened, I had to leave it in my car for two days and I still couldn't get out. But I had to have someone come and break the ignition, replace the key. >> Okay. >> And it's I mean, you can try to It's in there. I don't know what the deal is, but it is >> okay. I believe you. >> It won't back off, and it's really stressing me out. It's got me about having a panic attack. >> All right. >> I got to get out for a minute. >> Does this back one lock automatically with the car? >> Yeah, it doesn't. It's never opened. >> It's never been opened. Yeah, it's it's doesn't, as far as I know, it does not even work. >> All right. >> Cuz my kids were playing back there one time and trying to get it open. They couldn't get it open. >> I tried and it's If you got a pry bar, I'll break that trunk to get it open. I don't care right now, man. My uncle's in bad shape right now. And I got to get I mean, it's bad. >> I don't have a pry bar and I'm sorry, but we're going to be here a while. If I have to take the car for evidence and figure out a way. >> I live all the way in Oregon. [laughter] >> Are there oysters back here? >> Yes, there is. >> Yeah. How much? >> Um, I don't know. I just picked them on. >> There was They were sit, you know, they were just sitting there. Three bags right sitting right there on the side. And I came down around there, seen some guys. I seen I did see three people run off. >> Okay. >> And I seen right where they put their [ __ ] at their oysters at. I went down and sniped them. And that guy when I was doing it, the guy over there was yelling and I wasn't even the person he was after. Yeah, I know. >> Who are you related to at Scope? >> What's that? >> Who are you related to at Scope? >> Um I I got like two cousins up here. I don't I don't even >> Do you know their names? >> Um I know. Uh what's Stella's name? >> What's >> But you said you were you already told me that you were on his beach and he yelled at you. Yeah, down at the Yeah, I know. That's what I was saying. I went down there to get the That was right there where he yelled at us. Right there at the bottom of that trail there. That's where we went to. And that's when the guy come he come out yelling and everything and >> All right. Well, you I'll if you got a pry bar, I'll break it open and I'll take the oysters back down there or whatever. Well, we got bigger issues than that cuz these oysters were taken off of a private beach, right? It's not a public beach. >> I >> It's off of someone else's beach. So, these oysters one, unless you could produce a shell fishing license for me. >> I'll go look you guys up. >> No, I was I was That was today's plan was to get it. I was going for my uncles and that's what we were doing today. >> All right. But you're not I'm not going to let you leave with oysters. So, no, no, I I'll go dump them, right? I'll go dump them right back down. >> So, the rule number one is we got to get the trunk open. >> Okay. >> All right. >> So, if we if I break my trunk open, then can we just go dump the oysters back down there? Can I go home? >> I'm not telling you to break your trunk open. I just need to get the trunk open. >> I know, but if I mean, I will I will I'll bust it open and get the oysters out there for you if we can if I can just go dump them back down there and be good, man. I don't care about the I do care about the car. It's my car, but you know, for the >> have a truck release. No, that it's I tried it earlier. It's It doesn't work. >> How about How about the back seats folding down? >> I had the key. Same thing with the key. What What What happened is I originally put the key in the ignition. It got locked in there. I couldn't get it out. I had my uncle come out, take and pop the ignition out, break the ignition out. We put a new ignition in there. It's different than everything else. That's why it keeps getting stuck. >> A lock on those back seats. Releasing down there. >> Yeah, there is. >> There's a lock, right? I mean, it's right there and it's it's locked. I mean, it doesn't But I will break that open. Get them get them out of there. If I can just go drop if or if I can go drop M back down there, I don't have a problem doing that. I'll break my trunk. I mean, I'm a pretty honest guy when it comes to the break. I don't care about that part. I do, but I don't, you know, I don't want to, you know, have [snorts] a Yeah, cuz we're a long ways from home. >> Yeah. Hey, Joe. >> Yeah. >> Do you have a two-part last name? >> Um, no. >> You You don't have two last names? >> No. >> You just have Jose first name. >> Yeah, Jose Middle initials. But there was nothing in those buckets. though. By the way, >> those buckets were empty completely. >> All right. >> So, why don't you try the back? >> Just Just show us so we know. >> Oh, the release button. >> Okay. This is the release here. >> Okay. >> Oh, that's my gas cap. It's That's the gas. When you push down, it's the gas. You pull up and it's fat and it's >> Okay. >> And I'll show the back seat here. Like a hammer there. Can you use a hammer as a pry bar? >> Yeah, it's it does. >> All right. >> What about What about that hammer? Can you use that as a pry bar? >> No, but I can use it to smash out my tail lights and pull that. Well, then we'll have a tail light get home. But I could smash my tail light out and reach in probably and pull it through somehow like that. But my then my tail light's going to be broken and I probably get pulled over for that. But I mean if that gets our problem resolved and and I can go home or I got cuz I really got to get with my uncle. >> I'm I'm I'm not leaving here with those oysters. >> I don't want to leave with them. I don't want to leave them. I'm I'm That's what I'm saying. I mean, I'll figure out a way to get him out of there. If we if we can drop him back in there >> and I can go, we'll figure out a way to get in there. >> All right. >> Does that sound like I mean, will that work? >> Yeah. If you you got to figure out a way to get into the trunk, though. >> I'll I'll figure out a way. Just give me a little bit here. Um, >> got it. >> Here's your buckets. Buckets are empty. The bags aren't. >> The bags aren't. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> You want me to hold them over there for you? >> No, I'll grab them. >> Want more light? No, you're good. >> We're going to take them to the bed of my truck. All right. >> All right. Yeah. There's a couple more gra out of there. Hold on. I'll grab it for you. Hold on. You want to touch it? shovels wet. That's all grocery work gloves and wrap. That's all of them. >> So, you didn't dig any of these oysters? >> No, I didn't dig any of them. No. >> Are your shovels wet? >> No, no, no. That's just wet from being on the floor here. I got my trunk leaks. It completely leaks. You see right there? That's from this thing here. It leaks all over the place. The floorboard soak water up, too. All right. I'll pull that out. This had all my work clothes in it, by the way. This had all my work clothes in it. Okay. Thanks. Oers going back out there. >> No, man. I'll take them back. Um I just got to count out how many there are. >> Oh my god. >> Here, we'll do that. Well, we'll take >> Sorry it took me a few minutes to break honest with you. >> That's all right. [snorts] So, hey, I'm going to just read you your Miranda warnings. Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. >> You under arrest or something? >> No, you're not under arrest, but you are being detained. Okay. Not free to leave. Um All right. So, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in the court of law. Having these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to me? >> Um, >> I just have a few questions, specific questions. Okay. >> All right. >> So, you you told me that you saw some guys coming up from the beach walking down the road and you saw you saw where they put their bags >> originally. Well, I I when I first first one I went by, I kind of watched a little bit. First one went by, same down there, and I turned around, went back, went up the hill, turned around, and then they were scuttlebutting out of there. They went up in the woods right across the street up in the woods. >> They went up in the woods. >> Yeah. And so I just jammed over there quick. I ran down the bank there. There was one bag up on top, two bags on the bottom, and the one was There was one that was spilled a little bit. And I just I went and grabbed him and tried to get the out of there. and and a guy came over yelling >> and and then I'm like, "Oh, God." You know, cuz I I don't I don't know, you know. >> All right. So, how'd your boots get so wet >> from going down that hill? >> From going down the hill. >> Bag. Yeah. Cuz one of the bags uh was sitting up on top and it kind of tumbled over a little. >> Okay. So, they were in these bags here. >> Um No. Yes. >> They were They were in these bags. >> Yes. And I realized they're the same bags as I got, too. They are the exact same bags. >> I know. I know. I realize that. >> So you these people that you don't know. >> No. I'll tell you what. Okay. Go down there. >> Go down there. There's a tub down there. There's a tub. >> Same exact bags. >> No. No. There's >> You have tubs in the back of your car. >> No. There's a tub down there right now. Not one of my tubs at all. There was a tub down there. It It was full of oysters. I went down there, scooped them all in there cuz the tub was falling over going down the hill. >> All right. So, here's All right. Why when I stopped would you get in your car as f like you slammed your trunk door, got in your car and >> I had no idea who it was. >> And then you shut your lights off, turn into here. >> I had no idea who it was. I thought it was one of the people from around here, a local person. I thought they were going to chase us down or something because that guy we was yelling stuff and and and yelling obscinities or yelling cuss words and so it kind of freaked me out a little there. >> Okay. All right. Did you take these oysters off his beach? >> No, I took them out of the tub that was down there that I did not put them in the tub. >> Okay, >> I'm being fair. I I'll be honest on that. >> When you originally talked to me, >> I know >> you said that guy you yelled at you while you were on his beach. >> Yes. >> While we were while we were went down there, he was walking down the beach. >> Just so you know, I'm going to go get a written >> state. I I know. I know. I totally understand. That's why I'm just That's why I'm trying to make sense of it all. >> Okay. >> Okay. I mean, cuz I mean, that's why I open the trunk so we can get this resolved, [snorts] get it, you know, with cuz I don't I don't >> All right, cuz this is a lot of oysters. Is it? >> Do you understand that? >> No, I don't. >> It's a lot of oysters. Do you understand what the Do you know what the daily limit for a recreational harvester is? >> I don't. >> 18. >> 18. >> 18 for one license per day. Oh, wow. >> It's significantly more than that. >> Okay. I had no I had no idea. >> Yeah. >> I don't I mean I I >> All right. While we're getting these counted out, I'm just going to have you like sit on the or stand by the trunk of your car. Okay. And we'll get these counted out and uh I'll come talk to you in a sec. Okay. >> What's Let what's happen now? >> I don't know yet. We got to we got to count all these oysters up and we're going to go from there. Okay. >> Am I getting a [clears throat] ticket or >> uh You're not going to get a ticket. It's going to be criminal. >> What do you mean? >> So, it's it's going to be theft. And depending on how many it is, it could be it could be commercial limit commercial level oysters. Yeah. >> Really? >> Yep. >> Why don't you go? >> I have no idea how to >> stand behind Stand behind your car for me while we're getting these counted up and we'll go from there. All right. >> All right. >> Am I going to be able to go home tonight? >> Yes. Okay. >> I'm not arresting you. >> All right. So, uh what kind of charge is it? Please don't say it's anything like one. >> Well, that depends on the fair. Well, the theft part depends on the fair market value of an oyster. >> I don't even have no idea >> pounds of oysters. So, I'm going to get how much a dozen oysters cost at the market. And then depending on how many dozens that we have here, >> how much do they cost in the market? >> We're going to I don't I don't know off the top of my head. That's why I'm going to go get a price. >> Okay. I'm just being honest with you. I'm being straightforward. I got to do my job. I understand. I understand. >> If it's if it's a commercial limit of >> it's a commercial limit. >> I I I don't ask you cuz I don't know. I'm really sorry about that. I I really don't. >> Well, let let let's not even go to the commercial till we're done counting. Okay. All right. So, go ahead and stand behind your car for me. We'll get this taken care of. >> I I did not count those ones yet. >> Okay. That's three. So, 92 93 94 95. So, 180 so far. 180 >> so far. >> Not counting any of these. >> All right. >> That's just this right here. >> This bucket 48 49 50 51. >> We had 60 here and then he had 51. So that's 11 11. >> Okay. >> So 291 total. plus whatever's left down there. >> Yeah. >> In the bucket. And uh >> Yeah, I'll go count those up. Um sick. I'll just You guys don't go. I'll put them all back in the bag. And take them. There's another rake and shovel um in that in that tub down by the guard rail. the art piece you need a picture of. I I'm going to have to have an exact count. Okay. Take them back to the office and hold the light and count them all really good. >> All right, Jose. Have you ever had any prior violations with fish and wildlife before? >> Never. >> No. So, if I look you up in my computer, I'm not going to see any prior. >> I've never been done had nothing like this. >> All right. Okay. So, here's where I'm at. All right. So, uh, I got PC for theft and, uh, commercial over limit. Okay. [snorts] All right. So, what I'm going to do is I'm going to forward those charges to the prosecutor and they'll be in touch with you. Okay. >> All right. You have any questions? >> Um, what's your current address? Okay. >> You have any questions for him? >> Um, yeah. I don't know what's what what's going to happen. So, prosecu I'm going write my report up, send it to the prosecutor's office. Um, will >> it help if I go get my fishing license or my shellfish license? >> Will it help if I get one tomorrow? >> Uh, wrecked one. >> Yeah. >> No. >> No. Okay. >> No. Not with this many oysters. >> I I had no idea. I didn't have No. >> All right. >> Do you have any questions for me? >> Yeah. What do they usually do over something like this? >> Uh, just depends. >> Is it like fines? Is it jail time? Is it what what >> it I can't I can't tell you any of that. That's just for the course of the >> on average. >> It's that's for the course of decide. Yeah. It changes >> with every case. So I can't give you >> I haven't been in trouble in a very long time. So this is >> all right. >> Yeah. >> All right. Well, I'm going to get out of here. Okay. >> I took your um >> my shovel. Yeah. >> It wasn't even ever used. >> It wasn't even ever used. >> It didn't get used at all. The only reason it was wet is cuz my my floorboards are this my front floorboards are my all of them cuz my sunroof leaks so it runs all down sides and that this trunk is soaked. If you can grab anywhere >> Let me take another look at it real quick. I did. You look at that too much. >> Yeah. >> Take your shovel back. >> Okay. You Okay. Thank you. >> All right. I'm going to take a picture of your boots real quick. >> Oh, the boots. >> Yeah. All right. So, I don't have a time frame of when the prosecutor's office is going to contact you. Okay. >> How how will they contact me? >> Um, either probably by mail. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And then what do what then? What do they do from there? >> All the instructions will be on that. >> They like to set a court date or something. Is that what it is? >> Yeah. Pro if that's if that's what they decide to do. I'm late. So, I'm just going to write my report, send it to them, and tell them to make that decision. Huh? >> Are you going to tell them it's cooperative? >> I will. Yes. I appreciate it. >> All right. All right, >> that's it. >> All right. Hopefully. Hopefully. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Have a good night. >> All right. We'll follow you. >> Okay. >> All right. Most people live around here cuz I heard I heard the people around here chased you and like chased you in their car. >> Oh, >> you know, and like chased you down. I don't know what for, but that's just what >> what my granny told me. >> Okay. All right. >> All right, Jo. on the tongue to put them all in now. >> I'll give them back to them >> cuz they weren't on the road and I wasn't out when I came out and I went back in and I came back out. They It wasn't that much time lapse and they were not on the road. So that meant they had to cross the bridge, but they weren't in the road and they weren't on the shoulder. So they had to go somewhere. >> So you said there was three with headlights. I saw two headlights and I saw three people walking down the road. >> Well, the two people I we contacted had headlights. >> There was Yeah. three people. I saw two headlights that were on the beach. >> All right. >> Originally, it was the first. Then when I yelled and I saw two and you know, then I went in, came back out, and I saw three people [snorts] going down the road. >> All right. Well, I'll give you all your oysters back if you want them. >> Uh, it doesn't matter. [laughter] I think they just must have just started because looking at what I saw in the bucket. >> Oh, no. >> No. They they were digging for a while. >> Almost 300. >> Oh, really? >> There's I have 291 in the back of my truck right now. >> Perfect. No. Add to the pile. >> Okay. [laughter] Do you want them back or >> No. Okay. >> I've got hundreds of >> All right. >> My problem was I I get tired of people stealing from me. >> Yeah. Do you um you want would you be willing to press charges for theft or >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I figured I caught them early. >> Yeah. No, >> I slept in. >> Yeah. Yeah. I got We got a bunch. >> So, that must have been what you're saying. They were danger. >> Yeah. Well, it's never a waste of time for us cuz we've been having a lot of shellfish issues in the county recently. So, never a waste of time. >> So, they you are only able to contact two time. >> Yeah, they were getting in their car at the garden. >> Were they of equal height? >> Uh, one was taller, much shorter. >> I didn't see the female didn't get out of the car. Uh there's a male and a female. The male was a large male, but uh I didn't The female never got out. >> So the reason he was asking if he wanted them is because >> I'm going to have to destroy them. >> Yeah. >> If I can't find someone to give them to, >> you know. Well, I Yeah. I mean, I don't really want to, you know, destroy them, but nobody would take them. Huh. [laughter] >> Not this late tonight. I don't think we can find anybody. That's why we were wondering if you just wanted to dump them back in tomorrow. >> 16 17 18 19 20. >> You're not required to hold them as evidence because they'll rot probably. >> Yeah. Yeah. That Yeah. We don't keep like uh shellfish as evidence. We take we count them all out, take pictures of it. Uh, and then that's our evidence. Um, but, uh, the reason why we can't just like go put them somewhere else is so we don't spread like nasty shellfish from one place to the next, >> spread nor virus, that type stuff. So, >> Department of Health issue. >> Yeah. Well, yeah. You don't know. I've never I have not had the beach certified in years. >> Yeah. Um, so the tools uh will be submitted into evidence um along with this bucket maybe. Okay. Yeah, I'll get it I'll get it printed up for you and then I'm going to get these all laid out and take document them. In the end, the officer found the suspect to be in possession of 329 oysters. Charges for theft, trespassing, and harvesting commercial oyster limits without a license were forwarded to the Mason County Prosecutor's Office. Unfortunately, Washington State does not have online records for this case. If you like this video and want to see more like it, subscribe to Arrest Cam. As always, thanks for watching.