Warrant issued before suspect commandeered Seattle-to-Victoria ferry

VICTORIA – The man at the helm of Clipper Navigation says his staff will have to answer some difficult questions after a suspect commandeered a Victoria Clipper ferry moored in Seattle, Wash.

CEO Darrell Bryan sounded the alarm Sunday morning as he watched the catamaran move away from Pier 69 and then drift nearly 300 metres offshore, before a SWAT team boarded the vessel and removed a man.

“A couple of our security steps were not followed by individuals that would have precluded him getting into the wheelhouse,” said Bryan.

Police were called when tug workers spotted the man onboard as they retrieved the roughly 40-metre long drifting passenger ferry.

Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said the suspect was questioned Sunday afternoon and was booked into King County Jail.

Officers have since identified the suspect as Samuel McDonough and Bryan said he was told the suspect is a registered sex offender.

“They already had a warrant out for him,” said Bryan. “He had not registered as per the requirements.”

Officials were still trying to determine how the ship was stolen, but it was not damaged.

The Victoria Clipper provides regularly scheduled ferry service between Seattle and Victoria’s Inner Harbour.(CFAX)