Editor's note: Since posting this blog, more news has developed. Go to the bottom link to read the latest from The Seattle Times.
In today’s Chronicle (July 7), on the back page of the main section, we published “‘Bandit’ Accused of Idaho Theft.”
Why should this interest you? Besides being a fascinating tale worthy of a Pulitzer Prize winning fiction author’s top talents, the Bandit’s last time in a secure jail was right here in Chehalis, specifically the juvenile jail Green Hill. He was originally ordered to three years in juvenile jail after pleading guilty to three felony burglary charges out of Island County, which had been plea bargained down from 23 charges. From the maximum-security juvenile Green Hill jail, Harris-Moore was transferred to the Griffin Home, a halfway house in Renton, where he escaped in the middle of the night and has been spectacularly on the run ever since.
Today’s story details the latest in the life and times of one Colton Harris-Moore, the 19 year old who has been in the news for the past two years for his escapes from law and justice, his stealing luxury cars, yachts and airplanes (he taught himself to fly by practicing on a computer, reading manuals and then taking the airplanes on joyrides, without any formal training or instruction, often walking away after a crash landing). He is a person who, despite the intentions of law enforcement, remains free today. Harris-Moore has eluded massive state and federal searches, as well as bounty hunters. He is under investigation for more than 70 alleged criminal acts.
To some Harris-Moore is a cult/folk hero, with a large following hoping he remains on the lam — on the loose, on the run. Hollywood filmmakers want the rights to his life story, a Facebook fan page dedicated to Harris-Moore has about 45,000 “friends.” Some call him as intelligent as Einstein. To others, he is a punk burglar who should be caught and thrown in jail, an embarrassment to his Camano Island community. He gained the moniker “Barefoot Bandit” by pulling off several of his burglaries in bare feet.
The latest news had “Colt” in our area not too long ago, traveling from his stomping grounds of Camano Island through Raymond, then into Oregon. He left a note and $100 at a veterinary clinic in Raymond, stating “Drove by, had some extra cash. Please use this cash for the care of animals —Colton Harris-Moore, (AKA: “The Barefoot Bandit”) Camano Island, WA.”
Harris-Moore then likely made his way to Ilwaco, where he stole a $450,000 boat, crossed over the Columbia River and docked it near Astoria, Ore. From there he apparently made his way to the Midwest, and in the latest twist, stole an airplane in Bloomington, Indiana, flew it out of the country where he crash-landed just off the shore of the Bahamas. The plane was found in shallow water yesterday. No sign of a pilot. This is classic “Colt” behavior.
The FBI has released an official “Wanted” poster after they confirmed Harris-Moore crossed state lines in a stolen airplane. The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to Harris-Moore’s arrest, and stated he “should be considered armed and dangerous and an escape risk.” Me thinks “escape risk” is a bit of a redundancy in this tale, which has been published in newspapers and magazines across the world.
If you worked at Green Hill during Harris-Moore’s stay, I would appreciate any insight into his character, any details of his time there. If you haven’t read the story of the Barefoot Bandit in detail, here are a few websites (Outside magazine’s “The Ballad of Colton Harris-Moore” is fascinating), along with the FBI “Wanted” poster and his Facebook fan page:
www.fbi.gov/wanted/alert/moore_ch.htm
www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Colton-Harris-Moore/154393645881?v=wall&ref=ts
outside.away.com/outside/culture/201001/colton-harris-moore-plane-steal-1.html
www.seattleweekly.com/2009-11-25/news/cover-story-catch-me-if-you-camp/
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012303294_barefoot08.html
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2012317385_apcbbahamasteenfugitive.html
