Issaquah police on Wednesday seized a large amount of property that was stolen, expensive and enjoys the company of white powder.

That’s right: winter sports gear.

According to a department press release issued Monday morning, officers from Issaquah PD, Cle Elum police, the Major Crimes Task Force and deputies from the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 55-year-old Ronald, Wash. man on Jan. 7 for possession and trafficking of stolen merchandise.

Issaquah police are in charge of the investigation, but charges have been filed by the Kittatas County prosecutor, Issaquah Det. Brian Horn said.

The man, the owner of a sporting goods business in Ronald, is alleged to have appropriated the recovered portion of $150,000 in equipment taken during the November theft of a trailer from an Issaquah-area competitor. Police recovered $48,000 of equipment during the arrest.

“Kittitas County has filed formal charges and will prosecute the matter,” Horn wrote in an email to The Reporter. “I can tie the property to our Burglary (emphasis by Horn) but cannot tie this suspect to that crime. His role comes with the new charges of Possession of and Trafficking in Stolen Property.”

Ronald is an unincorporated Census Designated Place — just west of Roslyn, Wash. — with approximately 265 residents as of the 2000 United States Census.

While investigating the man, police believed he could be reselling the stolen merchandise. A customer sent to the business purchased a backpack at approximately $500 below market value, in cash, with no receipt.

Police used the backpack’s serial number to determine it had come from the Issaquah business.

Much of the recovered merchandise has already been returned to the rightful owner after Issaquah police verified price tags, stock keeping unit numbers and serial numbers, Horn said.