The following was submitted by San Juan County Sheriff Ron Krebs.

On Feb. 9, Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office were called to investigate a home invasion to an Orcas home during the early morning hours.The unknown male suspect entered the home and woke up the sleeping victim. The suspect was wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt, gloves and had some kind of a mask on his face. The suspect put a handgun to the victim’s head and threatened him. The victim was told he had stolen a job, nobody wanted him around (the job) and not to call the police. The victim was not injured by the suspect.

On Feb. 11 Deputies were called to the Orcas OPALCO building in reference to the exterior windows and some walls being tagged (graffiti) by what appeared to be a black ink marker. The graffiti were open threats of the following words in a number of places, “Die, Prepare to die, kill you and pray to your maker.”

The Sheriff’s Office believes these two cases are tied together as the first victim just started working at OPALCO. This crime has caused fear within our Island community; we ask if anyone has information about these crimes to contact the Sheriff’s Office.

A $2500 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a suspect has been set up. Please call the tip line (370-7629) and leave information and you will be called back, call 911 or talk to one of your Orcas deputies.