Accused Burglar Was Drunk And Dope Sick When He Committed Theft

BONNEY LAKE, WA — An accused burglar told police he drank a fifth of vodka before breaking into Hops n Drops restaurant and bar in Bonney Lake on Tuesday, adding that he committed the crime because he was becoming "dope sick" and needed money for drugs, according to court documents obtained by Patch.

Michael Lawrence Collins, 30, was arraigned Thursday on charges of burglary and theft.

Early July 16, a custodian and delivery driver arrived at Hops n Drops, located at 21290 SR-410 in Bonney Lake, to find a broken window and loose change scattered about inside, court documents state.

When police arrived, officers and the restaurant manager reportedly reviewed security camera footage and saw a white man wearing a black hoodie with a red shirt, dark shorts and black shoes, who also had vertical tattoos on his calves, enter the business and attempt to open the restaurant's safe.

For more than an hour the suspect was in the restaurant, at one point using a tow strap in an ultimately unsuccessful effort to pull the safe's door open, court documents state. Eventually the suspect gave up on the safe and instead took items from the business's office before fleeing in a silver-gray Kia Soul, the report states.

After investigators shared the surveillance images with the rest of the department, a Bonney Lake officer reportedly spotted the Kia parked behind New Peking restaurant just across the highway. Sitting in the vehicle was a man who matched the suspect's description, the report states.

Speaking with the officer, the suspect — later identified as Collins — said he'd ran out of gas and ended up stuck behind New Peking, which can actually be seen from Hops n Drops.

Following his subsequent arrest, Collins admitted to burglarizing Hops n Drops, court documents state. Collins explained that he'd gotten drunk and was feeling the effects of withdrawal, so he left home in his mother's Kia in order to find a way to get money for more drugs.

Collins reportedly said he chose Hops n Drops because of its seemingly secluded locale, noting he used a rock to break the window before crawling into the restaurant.

Collins admitted he had difficulty opening the safe, so he instead opted to pillage a laptop and checks from the business office, cortisones documents state. Collins then reportedly told the officer the items were still in a backpack in the Kia's backseat.