Police Blotter, April 16 - 22, 2016

A 51-year-old Anacortes man was arrested for investigation of felony DUI after another driver reported seeing the man drinking beer while driving his truck on Highway 20 near Sharpes Corner.

On Tuesday, April 19, the witness reported the truck was swerving in and out of its lane prior to pulling off the highway at a business on Sharpes Corner. Officers contacted the man a short time later and arrested him after he failed physical sobriety tests. The man denied driving, but one of the witnesses had taken a photo of him driving. The man had a previous felony driving crime and now faces a charge of felony DUI.

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

Saturday, April 16

An officer on routine foot patrol heard arguing coming from an apartment in the 800 block of 28th Street. The officer stayed in the area in case the argument turned violent. A short time later a 21-year-old man left the apartment and was met by the officer. The man reportedly said he had several warrants. The officer took him into custody and discovered the man had heroin and methamphetamine on his person. He was booked into the Skagit County Jail.

A 72-year-old Anacortes man was arrested on a charge of DUI after a family member called police to report he was drunk and just drove from his home to the store to buy more alcohol. Officers found the man outside a convenience store as he was getting into his car with a half case of beer. The man told officers he had driven to the store. He failed field sobriety tests and had a breath test almost double the .08 limit. He also had an outstanding arrest warrant. He was later booked into the jail.

Monday, April 18

A 59-year-old Mount Vernon man was arrested after he shoplifted more than $100 worth of steaks and liquor from a grocery store in the 1500 block of Commercial Avenue. The man was contacted by police within a block of the store and arrested.

Tuesday, April 19

A 27-year-old transient man was cited for urinating in public after an officer on routine foot patrol in the 2300 block of Commercial Avenue was contacted by a man who asked directions to a restroom. After giving the directions, the officer spotted the man a short time later urinating under a streetlight at the corner of Commercial Avenue and 29th Street.

Members of the Children’s Hospital Guild are looking for one of their home tour signs that disappeared from 12th and “D” Ave. over the weekend of April 16-17. The sign was a 2’x3’ sign with a plexi-glass cover.  The sign is valued at $100.00 and is used each year during their home tour fund raiser.  Anyone with information should call the Anacortes Police Department or just drop the sign off at the Police Station. 

A local construction company reported a $300 Stihl brand chainsaw was taken from one of their trucks that was left unoccupied for a short time on Oakes Avenue earlier in the day. There are no suspects.

Friday, April 22

An Anacortes woman reported she had fallen victim to a very common Internet scam. She received an unsolicited message on her computer that a virus had been detected and she needed to call the technical support number listed on the screen. She called the number and a man with a “Middle Eastern” accent advised her there would be a $250 charge to fix her computer. She gave the man her credit card information but realized very quickly she had been scammed. She called her bank, but the transaction had been completed. Police say to always take the time to verify information before proceeding with this type of transaction.

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.