Second suspect arrested in alleged theft of $63,000 excavator
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office arrested a second person suspected of using a fake name to rent a $63,000 excavator and trailer and then never returning it.
Bryce Joseph LaCasse, 33, was booked into Whatcom County Jail Thursday, Sept. 3, on suspicion of charges including, first-degree theft, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle, forgery and first-degree criminal impersonation. Jail records show he is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.
LaCasse was located at his home on Golden Valley Drive in Maple Falls Thursday and taken into custody, sheriff’s office spokesperson Deb Slater told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
During a search after his arrest, deputies found 0.9 grams of methamphetamine in LaCasse’s front pocket.
On Aug. 18, deputies booked Amanda Laine Bryant, 36, in Whatcom County Jail on charges including first-degree theft, first degree criminal impersonation and unlawful possession of a firearm, and jail records show she was released Aug. 21, on $25,000 bail.
On June 10, LaCasse and Bryant arranged to rent an excavator and trailer under the false names of “Kara and Mark Livingston,” Whatcom County Superior Court records state. When the victim attempted to receive payment from LaCasse and Bryant, he was reportedly unsuccessful in contacting them.
The victim located the equipment using GPS, court documents state, and spoke to a witness who said LaCasse and Bryant were the two seen operating the equipment. In addition to the $63,259 cost of the equipment, unpaid fees for the equipment reportedly added up to $2,224.50.
Sheriff’s Office detectives used surveillance video to identify LaCasse as the man who signed the rental agreement, court documents show.
Court records show LaCasse has 12 previous felony convictions in Whatcom County since 2007 for possession of a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude police, possession of stolen property, trafficking stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and bail jumping.
