Monday afternoon was one of several calls that were received over the past week regarding people walking on the ice at local ponds and lakes. In this case a local teen was spoken to about walking out on the ice at Heart Lake. He was aware of the dangerous nature of walking on thin ice, but agreed to be more careful in the future.
Here are some of the other cases Anacortes Police worked on this week.
Saturday, Dec. 7
8:48 am. A resident of Puget Way called to report seeing a male subject taking photos of the Puget Sound Energy Substation located on Puget Way. She found the activity suspicious. Officers checked the area, but the man had already left by the time officers arrived in the area. There were no signs of damage to the power station. The report was forwarded to PSE.
11:47 am. A woman called to speak with an officer regarding angry email messages that she was receiving from a former employer. She was advised to delete the emails and / or seek a court order barring further contact.
2:43 pm. A power inverter and a light brown bicycle were reported stolen from a garage in the 3400 block of M Ave. There were no signs of forced entry and the items were believed to have been taken sometimes in the few days prior to the report.
3:51 pm. Officers were summoned to a motel on Commercial Ave. by the manager of the facility. He requested that they ask a 40-year-old Anacortes man who was sleeping in his car on the motel property to leave. The man was identified by officers and found to have a felony warrant for his arrest for Forgery and Motor Vehicle Theft. He was taken in to custody and booked in to the Skagit County Jail.
3:55 pm. A 24-year-old Burlington man was booked in to the county jail for a felony violation of a court order following a domestic violence incident at an address on Longview Drive. Officers were summoned to the home and learned that there had been a minor physical altercation between the man and his girlfriend. Investigation revealed that there was a court order in place that prohibited the man from having any contact with the woman at all. The assault during the violation of the court order automatically made the crime a felony.
Sunday, Dec. 8
12:29 am. Officers responded to the intersection of 7th Street and O Ave where four men were reportedly fighting. Investigation revealed that all four men, who were highly intoxicated, had been arguing about issues involving where they went to high school. No crime was committed and the four agreed to quiet down and leave the area on foot.
6:05 am. An Anacortes man called to report that his truck was stolen from the area of 29th and T Ave. The truck was taken while the man was inside a business getting ready for work. The stolen truck was found abandoned south of Conway the next day. Investigators are examining this case to see if it is related to another stolen vehicle case involving a car stolen in the Conway area the same day.
5:15 pm. An officer assisted with shutting off the water to a home in the 1300 block of 6th Street after a pipe burst due to freezing temperatures.
6:51 pm. A 36-year-old Anacortes man was arrested and booked in to jail following a domestic assault incident at a home on Saint Mary’s Drive.
8:19 pm. A passerby called 911 to report two people in dark clothes walking along Heart Lake Road. An Officer checked on the pair and learned that their car had broken down in the Heart Lake parking lot. He gave them a ride to a friend’s house so that they could get assistance with their car.
Monday, Dec. 9
1:27 pm. A man called from the Copper Pond area to report that his wife had seen a coyote around their home, including up on the front porch of the house. He was advised to call if the animal was spotted near the house again.
3:52 pm. The Dept. of Natural Resources called to report that they had found a sunken boat in the area and requested that APD check to see if the owner of the boat was at home. Officers responded to the owner’s address on West 5th Street and spoke with the 37-year-old Anacortes man. He was already aware that his boat had sunk. He was not on board it at the time that it went down. He had been planning on diving to the boat to re-float it, if possible, but the temperatures had been too cold. Officers discovered that the man had two felony warrants out for his arrest. He was taken in to custody and booked in to the Skagit County Jail. DNR was notified and agreed to work out recovery of the vessel with the man at a later time.
Tuesday, Dec. 10
4:40 am. An officer stopped a vehicle in the 1100 block of 12th Street after observing that it had expired registration tabs. She recognized the passenger in the vehicle as a 42-year-old Anacortes man with a warrant for his arrest. He was taken in to custody on the warrant, which was for failing to appear in court after being charged with Recreational Fishing Without a License. The jail was too overcrowded to accept the man on the warrant, so was booked and released from the Anacortes Police Station and given a new court date.
10:36 am. Officers and member of the City Street Department arrived at a home in the 4400 block of Oakes Ave. after a water pipe burst and flooded the garage and driveway. The residents were not home, so the water was turned off and a note left for the homeowners.
11:30 am. A woman called to report that a window had been broken out of her car while it was parked overnight near 15th and M Ave. Nothing was missing from inside the vehicle.
1:48 pm. An Anacortes resident called to report that over $4,000 had been charged on her credit card without her permission. The matter is being investigated by her bank as well as the business where the online charges were received. The woman is still in possession of her credit card, so it is unclear how the number was obtained by the suspect(s).
5:25 pm. An Anacortes resident called to report that his Jeep had been stolen from the area of the 2400 block of T Avenue. He suspected that his 27-year-old daughter, who has a history of stealing this vehicle, might have taken the Jeep. As officers began to investigate further the daughter contacted her family through friends and let them know where the Jeep could be found. The Jeep has now been recovered and charges are being contemplated against the daughter.
8:46 pm. Officers went to an address on Erie Avenue to attempt to locate a woman who was a suspect in a crime. As they approached the home a 39-year-old Anacortes man ran out the back of the house and was contacted by an officer. Investigation revealed that he had a Burlington Municipal Court Warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court following an arrest for Malicious Mischief and Violation of a Court Order. The man was transported to the Anacortes Police Station, where he was issued a new court date and released due to jail overcrowding.
Wednesday, Dec. 11
8:50 pm. A passerby reported seeing people moving around inside Island View Elementary School, which seemed suspicious so late at night. Officers contacted the janitor, who advised that the school is open late on Wednesdays due to basketball practice.
8:51 pm. Auxiliary Patrol members observed three teens lighting off fireworks near the High School. An officer was summoned to the area and spoke with the teens, who assured that there would be no further fireworks violations.
10:22 pm. The Stockton, California Police Department notified APD that a handgun stolen in a burglary in Anacortes in 2005 had been recovered in their city. The circumstances of the recovery are still unclear, but the weapon is in their custody and the owner of the gun here in Anacortes has been notified. The original case has already been closed and a suspect charged.
Thursday, Dec. 12
10:16 am. A resident on 32nd Street reported to APD that he had been contacted by a scammer that called him and claimed that his computer was infected with a virus and needed immediate, online repair. This was one of many similar complaints received by Anacortes Police this week. The callers claim that they can repair the computer online for a fee and request credit card information so that they can charge for their repair services. They also request information that will allow them to remotely access the victim’s computer. These are scam calls and NO information should be given out over the phone regarding credit card or computer access. Further information about these and other scams can be obtained and reported at the Federal government’s online fraud center at www.ic3.gov.
2:54 pm. A 30-year-old man who had recently been dating a 27-year-old Anacortes woman called to report that he was a victim of fraud and theft. He stated that he and his girlfriend had not been getting along recently and they ended their relationship and he moved out of town. He has now discovered several fraudulent charges on his credit card and suspects that his ex-girlfriend is responsible. The matter is currently under investigation.
3:41 pm. Officers responded along with the Anacortes Fire Department to a report of a residential fire on Yorkshire Drive. A fire was discovered in one of the walls of the structure and it was extinguished after holes were cut in the walls to access the fire. All of the occupants and pets were safely removed from the building. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but arson is not suspected.
9:00 pm. A neighbor called to report two teenagers behind a house that appeared to be acting suspiciously. Officers arrived at the home on 28th street and the two teens, an 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl, both attempted to avoid the officers by heading in the other direction. Both were contacted and it was apparent that they had been smoking marijuana. Evidence was gathered at the scene that led to both teens being charged for Possession of Marijuana. Investigation showed that the house that they were behind was their residence and they were released to an adult family member.
Friday, Dec. 13
4:43 am. Officers were called to the area of Sharpe’s Corner for a disoriented male subject who was wandering about in the cold. Discussion with the man revealed that he was suffering from mental health issues and he was transported voluntarily to Island Hospital for evaluation and treatment.