Richard Rankich, 44, of Port Angeles, was charged on April 17 by the Clallam County Prosecutor with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree, a Class B Felony. 

The charge is a result of the arrest of Rankich on the evening of April 15. 

A federal agent assigned to the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested Rankich in an alley behind a residence in the 1200 block of West 10th Street, which is in a neighborhood on Port Angeles’ west side.

The case began as a cooperative project between OPNET, United States Border Patrol; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Port Angeles Police Department. During the case, investigators observed Rankich possess a firearm. 

This was of particular concern to OPNET because Rankich has been previously convicted of several felonies including California convictions for narcotics and firearms violations and Washington convictions for Possession of both Methamphetamine and Cocaine with Intent to Deliver, and Delivery of Methamphetamine. After the arrest and booking of Rankich, investigators executed a search warrant on a car and a residence.

During the search of the residence, officers seized nine firearms and a stockpile of ammunition. 

Two of the firearms were civilian versions of military rifles. Rankich bailed out of jail the next day and was scheduled to appear in court at 3 p.m. today, April 18.