Suspect in Independence Valley Burglaries Arrested, Jailed

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A man in custody at the Thurston County Jail has reportedly confessed to burglarizing two Independence Valley residences last week to raise money to buy drugs, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Jeremy R. Bunting, 34, of Olympia, is being referred to the Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office on suspicion of two counts of residential burglary, trafficking in stolen property, three counts of theft of a firearm and three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office responded to two residential burglaries — one of them interrupted — on Wednesday in the 100 block of Smith Road and in the 200 block of Nelson Road in Rochester.

In the Smith Road burglary, a resident reportedly interrupted a man who had broken into her house. He was described as a man in his 20s or 30s driving a gray BMW sedan with zip ties on the front bumper.

On Friday, deputies from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office learned that Bunting was arrested by the Olympia Police Department the previous night on an unrelated felony charge and booked into the Thurston County Jail. According to Thurston County Jail records, Bunting was booked on suspicion of residential burglary and possession of stolen property.

Bunting was reportedly driving a gray 2003 BMW sedan with zip ties on the front bumper when he was arrested.

Deputies went to the Thurston County Jail and interviewed Bunting. He allegedly admitted to committing the Smith and Nelson roads burglaries to support a drug habit, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

At 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday, deputies received a report of an interrupted burglary in the 100 block of Smith Road. One of the home’s residents, a 54-year-old woman, came home and saw a gray BMW sedan parked in her driveway, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The man made excuses about looking for someone, then left.

The victim reported someone entered the residence by breaking a window and took property, including assorted jewelry, an iPad, a surround-sound receiver and medication. The damage to the window and stolen property amount to an about $6,500 loss, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Later that day, deputies responded to a report of a burglary between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the 200 block of Nelson Road in Rochester.

The victim, a 78-year-old man, reported that firearms included a Walther PPK .22 caliber pistol, a Colt Pony 380 pistol and a Llama .38 caliber revolver. The suspect also reportedly stole collector knives, a clock, a down comforter and silver utensils. The total loss is estimated to be more than $2,000.

One victim positively identified Bunting through a photo montage, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The stolen items were reportedly sold in the Lacey area. Investigators are working to find the stolen items.