Sequim Gazette staff

Four Sequim residents were arrested Nov. 7 in connection with two reported strong-arm robberies near banks in Sequim: one Oct. 12 in front of the Bank of America, 114 S. Sequim Ave., and the second Oct. 16 at the deposit drop site at Kitsap Bank, 990 E. Washington St.

Tyler Gordeuk, 19; Sean Farren, 20; Kyle Phipps, 21; and Jeremy Gelisse, 27, were arrested.
“Both criminal incidents were premeditated with great detail,” said Sequim Police Sgt. Dave Campbell.

“The first incident at Bank of America was initially reported to police as a robbery, by Gelisse. Officers discovered that the robbery had been staged and planned by Gordeuk, Farren and Geliesse.”

Campbell said it became evident that the first reported robbery “didn’t add up” as the investigation progressed.

“It appears that incident was a false report filed intentionally to try and throw police off of a theft of business funds and was made to try and protect the identity of the criminal actors involved.”

However, the robbery at Kitsap Bank apparently was real and the victim actually was robbed.
Sequim Police and Clallam County Sheriffs Office worked together investigating the cases.

“The Sheriff’s Office came through in a big way for us,” Campbell said.