Manhunt Blewett Pass

From the Sheriff

Murder Warrant Issued for fugitive Jorge Alcantara-Gonzalez in the case of missing Kent man, Ian Eckles. Search area to remain closed.

Kittitas County Sheriff’s Detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for Jorge Alcantara-Gonzalez, the subject of the extensive manhunt in the Mineral Springs area of Kittitas County. Alcantara-Gonzalez is charged with the suspected killing of missing 41-year old Kent man, Ian Eckles, along with possession of two stolen vehicles and numerous other thefts and burglaries in Kittitas County, including the theft of firearms.

The warrant arose from the ongoing investigation into Mr. Eckles’ disappearance. Forensic and circumstantial evidence found in Mr. Eckles’ vehicle leads Law Enforcement to believe he was a victim of homicide.

The Sheriff’s Office continues to lead the investigation into Mr. Eckles’ whereabouts with the assistance and resources of many other local, state and federal agencies. It is believed that Jorge Alcantara-Gonzalez remains in the forested, mountainous area around Mineral Springs.

During the coming days, including this weekend, the Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the US Forest Service and cooperating agencies will continue to pursue this armed and dangerous subject.

Multiple US Forest Service Roads in the area will be closed, including all roads off SR97 between Liberty Rd and Forest Service Rd 9714 or Iron Creek, and access points to this area from the Teanaway ridge. We ask that everyone stay clear of this area for their safety, the safety of Law Enforcement Officers, and the success of this important investigation.

Sheriff Myers voiced his concern for the safety of the Liberty area residents, stating, “Our investigation into this suspect has confirmed he has a willingness and the ability to kill. We will continue to utilize all available resources to end this threat.”

Thanks Ian

De nada Michael.

Unrelated to the at large murderer but an equally sad ending for the missing firefighter.

Kittitas County Press Release
Sheriff
Body of missing fire fighter located

Kittitas County, WA – 06/01/2020 – The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office has concluded the search for Marcus Carroll, a Snohomish County Fire Fighter. His body was located shortly before dark on the cliff-face on the west side of Peoh Point.
Marcus Carroll was hiking alone out to the viewpoint and was last heard from Saturday at around 5:00 P.M. His truck was recovered on the access road into the viewpoint. Kittitas County Search and Rescue members terminated the search this evening when drone footage verified his body on the west face of the cliff. Due to the technical aspects needed and the time of night, Mr. Carroll’s body will be recovered in the morning.

The Sheriff offered his condolences stating, “on behalf of our first responders, our heartfelt thoughts are with the family and friends of Marcus Carroll. We pray their anguish and grief will give way to acceptance and some level of peace”.

Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us

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Closure updates

US Forest Service issues Emergency Closure Order in support of Sheriff’s Office Manhunt

The US Forest Service has announced an Emergency Closure Order specific to the forest areas affected by the continuing manhunt of fugitive Jorge Alcantara-Gonzalez in Kittitas County.

The objective of the Order is to reduce the potential for members of the public to be endangered or harmed by
the fugitive, as well as to reduce the potential for members of the public to interfere with or impede law enforcement activities.

This Order will be effective until June 15, 2020, unless rescinded earlier.

Please see the attachments to view the order in its entirety.

Roads Closed
• FSR 9738 including: 9738111, 9738115, 9738116, 9738118, 9738130, 9738131, 9738132, 9738133, 9738134, 9738135, 9738138, 9738140, 9738144, 9738605, 9738609, 9738619,
9738621, 9738623, 9738625, 9738801, 9738802, 9738803, 9738804, 9738805, 9738806, and 9738807
• FSR 9726
• Spur roads 9714111, 9714116, 9714606, and 9714801
• FSR 9705 including: 9705111, 9705112, 9705113, 9705114, and 9705205
• FSR 9702 including: 9702111, 9702250, 9702630, 9702632, 9702636, 9702638, 9702640, 9702641, 9702642, 9702644, 9702646, 9702658, 9702660, and 9702664
• Spur roads 9700111, 9700115, 9700116, 9700118, 9700119, 9700120, 9700161, 9700162, 9700162, 9700170, 9700171, 9700178, 9700192, 9700203, 9700205, 9700207, 9700209,
9700212, 9700214, 9700215, 9700216, 9700217, 9700324, 9700609, and 9700613

Trails Closed
• 4W323 Wildcat Gulch
• 1364.1 Red Top
• 1364 Teanaway Ridge
• 4W326.1 Mill Ridge
• 1364.2 Blue Creek
• 4W327 Baker Creek
• 4W326 Mill Gulch
• 1364.3 Indian Creek
• 4W324 Guard Station
• XC005 Hovey Creek
• 4W325 Baker Ridge
• 4W340 Baker Tie

The Sheriff’s Office appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation with these closures.

Damn. Hope they stay safe and catch him without issue.

Thanks Doug.

And on it goes.   The search area continues to expand.

Public Land Closures expanded; manhunt continues

At the request of the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, the US Forest Service and the Washington Department of Natural Resources have issued orders for the temporary closure of new and expanded areas of concern in the ongoing manhunt for Jorge Alcantara-Gonzalez.

The coordinated closure includes all Forest Service lands west of SR97 to the edge of the Teanaway Community Forest (in red on the attached map), and the portion of the Teanaway Community Forest on the east side of Teanaway Rd and North Fork Teanaway Rd (in black on the attached map). North Fork Teanaway Rd is also closed near Milepost 9, eliminating access to recreational lands and facilities north of that point, including 29 Pines Campground.

Additional closures on the east side of SR97 include the Liberty Campground off Liberty road and Swauk Campground off SR97. The emergency closure order extends until June 15 unless modified or rescinded. Please review the attached map before making any plans in the area.

These expansive closures reflect the serious threat to public safety that the subject of this manhunt presents. The Sheriff’s Office has increased patrols in the area and is actively notifying residents about the situation. Residents are encouraged to lock their doors and vehicles, secure their property, and maintain heightened alertness.

We encourage anyone to call 911 to report any suspicious activity in or around these areas immediately, particularly including ANY stolen or missing property.

The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to apprehending this dangerous suspect and finding Ian Eckles, whose disappearance around May 17 began this investigation.

well, at least everything’s already closed because of covid : )

Not true.  There are hikers out there.  It gets a lot of traffic.  One sadly fell off of a cliff this week in that area.

Suspect caught

Murder Suspect Jorge Alcantara-Gonzalez Arrested in Teanaway Area

Sheriff’s Deputies safely arrested Jorge Alcantara-Gonzalez around 3:30 on Sunday afternoon, 6/14/20, concluding a manhunt that has been active for 23 days, since May 23. Alcantara was arrested on a warrant for the murder of Ian Eckles, the 41 year old hunter from Kent who disappeared near the town of Liberty on or around May 17, and for numerous other crimes including multiple burglaries, thefts, and possession of stolen vehicles. Alcantara was known to be armed and dangerous and was intimately familiar with the environment in which he was hiding. Nearby residents were warned about the situation and extra patrols were conducted around the clock in the surrounding areas.

Incident commanders for the manhunt relied on evidence found by search teams that Alcantara remained in the area despite intense pressure. They utilized the extensive closure of public lands, continued on-the-ground searches, and other tactics to force Alcantara to make himself more vulnerable in his search for necessary resources.

On Sunday afternoon, a local resident was walking in his neighborhood in the Teanaway area when he saw someone inside the house of a neighbor and called 911. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office and Officers from the US Forest Service and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife surrounded the home and called Alcantara out. He complied with their orders and warnings and was taken into custody without incident.

The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the alert citizen who called in his observations and the many other persons who have called with information and assistance in this investigation. We are also deeply grateful to the many local, state and federal agencies that have contributed their time, resources and energy in the effort to bring about the arrest of this dangerous fugitive.

Sheriff Clay Myers said: “The arrest of Jorge Alcantara concludes an uncertain and dangerous time for our County, especially for residents of the affected area. We are deeply grateful for the assistance of the residents of the Liberty and Teanaway areas, who have been constantly supportive throughout this time. We can now turn our attention to the successful prosecution of the crimes this suspect has committed and, most urgently, to finding and recovering the body of Ian Eckles and giving his family peace.”

great news