Police Blotter, Dec. 26, 2015 - Jan. 1, 2016

A 17 year-old girl was referred to juvenile authorities after admitting to car prowling.

An alert resident called 911 just after 9:30 PM on Dec. 28, to report seeing some people walking down 17th Street trying the handles on car doors.  As officers came in to the area they were further advised that at least one of the suspects had been seen entering a truck and rummaging around inside the cab.  Officers checked the area closely and located two girls, who initially denied any involvement and went on their way.  Further investigation at the scene revealed that the two girls were actually involved, and officers went to the residence of one of the girls and found them both there together.  One of the girls subsequently admitted that she had been the person seen entering the victim’s pickup truck and rummaging around inside.  The 17 year-old Anacortes resident was referred to Juvenile Authorities for the charge of Vehicle Prowling.  The parents of both juvenile girls were made aware of the circumstances and the arrest.

Here are some other cases Anacortes Police worked on this week.

Saturday, December 26

At about 2:30 PM officers responded to the Grandview Cemetery after someone reported hearing two men yelling at one another near the gravesites.  Officers contacted two adult men who were riding their bikes in the area and had been yelling to one another.  No crime occurred.

Just before 3:00 PM a passerby reported heavy smoke coming from the roof of Sunland Bark and Topsoil at Highway 20 and Reservation Road.  When officers arrived they discovered that a mechanic had started one of the company’s trucks inside the equipment garage and that was the source of the smoke.  There was no problem.

Sunday, December 27

At 1:30 PM officers were dispatched to a domestic disturbance call at a residence on 14th Street.  They learned that a 43-year-old Guemes Island man had kicked in the door of his brother’s home on 14th Street.  This occurred after he was told that he was not welcome in the home while it was unattended.  Officers located the intoxicated suspect in a back bedroom of the residence and took him in to custody. He was issued a citation for Trespassing and Malicious Mischief in violation of the Domestic Violence Protection Act. 

Officers received a report just after 9:15 PM of a man acting suspiciously on March’s Point Road.  He was seen jumping a fence in the area and then getting into a red car.  As an officer arrived in the area the red car drove past him and the driver honked his horn.  The officer recognized the driver as a 46 year-old Anacortes man with a suspended driver’s license.  He turned around and caught up to the vehicle, making a traffic stop in the parking lot of a nearby store.  The driver of the vehicle acknowledged that he was not supposed to be driving because he knew that his license was suspended.  He stated that he had been in the area of March’s Point Road trying to say hello to his sister.  The officer issued the man a citation for Driving on a Suspended License and was assured that the man would arrange for a licensed driver to take the vehicle from the parking lot.

Monday, December 28

At about 6:45 PM an employee at a downtown market observed a man stealing lighters and some Kool-Aid drink mix and then trying to leave the store.  The employee confronted the suspect, who returned the items prior to the police arriving.  The store asked that the suspect be banned from the store, so the officer completed a trespass notice banning the 24-yer-old Anacortes man from the premise for the next year.   

Tuesday, December 29

At 6:30 AM Officers responded to a local motel after the manager called 911 to report an intoxicated guest that was acting in a disorderly fashion.  Officers located the intoxicated man standing outside of one of the motel rooms.  He was highly agitated and took up a fighting stance several times while the officers worked to get him calmed down and back in his room.  Eventually, he quieted down and agreed to go back to bed and not cause any further problems.  The Manager warned the 44-year-old Seattle resident that if she received any more complaints he was going to be kicked out. 

At 5:30 PM a Sergeant recognized a 14 year-old Anacortes girl who was standing and talking to someone on 20th Street.  He was aware that there was a $5,000 bail felony warrant out for her arrest for failing to appear at a court hearing.  The Sergeant contacted the suspect and took her in to custody.  She was transported to Skagit Juvenile Detention and booked after her mother was advised of her arrest.

Wednesday, December 30

An Anacortes resident called to report that someone had taken a space heater and a frying pan from his boat moored at a local marina. 

Officers responded to the report of a stolen bike.  The reporting party told the officer that she and her husband had gone to dinner on December 26th at about 9:00 PM and she leaned her bicycle against the outside of the restaurant.  When they came out at about 10:30 PM the unlocked bike had been stolen.  The bike is described as black with the brand name “Bianchi” written on it in purple and maroon.  It also had a metal water bottle that had a butterfly sticker on it.  If you see this bike please call 911 reference case 15-A09990

At 11:50 PM an Officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle after observing it traveling 48 MPH in the posted 35 MPH zone on R Ave.  A records check showed that the driver’s license was suspended in his home state of Illinois. The driver was placed under arrest and given a citation for a future court appearance. He was also given a courtesy ride to the hotel where he was staying in town.  The apologetic driver acknowledged that he knew that he should not have been driving, and stated that this all stemmed from a speeding ticket that he had not taken care of back in Illinois. 

Thursday, December 31

A 29 year-old Anacortes man generated several calls for police assistance at about 11:00 AM on New Year’s Eve.  The frantic man ran into and around several businesses near 30th Street and R Ave ranting that there were people trying to kill him and his sister.  Along the way he jumped several chain link fences and fell several times.  Officers finally caught up to him after he climbed through the window of one business and came to rest in a locked conference room.  Upon being contacted by officers the man agreed that he needed medical assistance and he was transported to Island Hospital.  He was clearly experiencing some sort of mental distress and told officers that he was a former methamphetamine user as well as a diagnosed schizophrenic.  No criminal charges are to be filed.

This was one of many fireworks complaints that officers responded to during New Year’s Eve.  Residents were reminded that sale, possession and/or discharge of any type of fireworks in the city limits is illegal.

Friday, January 1

Just after midnight a resident of Highland Drive called to report that two vehicles in front of her home had been struck by a hit-and-run driver within the past few hours.  The responding officer took a report and photographs, but no suspect information was initially found.  The next day the victim called back to say that a man had contacted her and admitted that he had hit her vehicles the night before.  When contacted by an officer, the 52 year-old Anacortes man stated that he realized that he hit something, but he continued on home anyway.  He was issued a citation for Hit-and-Run and released with a future court date.

Note: Anacortes Police Department policy is to not include names or addresses of businesses or individuals that call 911 for police assistance, though this information is a matter of public record.