Police Blotter, November 4 - 10, 2017

Officers locked up a house after a call that construction equipment and household goods were in a garage with the door open.

Officers were called about an open garage door at a house being remodeled. Neighbors called around 5:15 p.m. after the construction crew left. Officers found various tools, construction equipment and boxed personal and household goods in the garage. Officers found the house key inside the deadbolt of the front door. Officers checked the house, finding no one inside. After being unable to get in contact with the new homeowners, officers secured the residence and took custody of the key. The key was later returned.

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

Saturday, November 4, 2017

A resident called police to report a man sleeping on a bench at a park around 8:30 a.m. An officer contacted the 33-year-old man, who is currently homeless. The man was provided information on local resources. The park was open and no crime was committed.

A 21-year-old Lummi man was arrested on a charge of driving with a suspended license after an officer noticed him speeding in the 1500 block of Q Avenue. He was cited and released.

Sunday, November 5, 2017

A 59-year-old Anacortes man was arrested on a charge of DUI after officers were dispatched to the report of a white van swerving badly around 8:20 a.m. When an officer arrived, the van was stopped in a lane on O Avenue and the right front wheel was completely destroyed. The man denied drinking but said he was taking prescription medication, which normally did not make it difficult to drive. A portable breath test showed he had been drinking. Officers noted it was not safe for him to be operating a vehicle under the influence of a combination of alcohol and medication. He was cited and released to a sober driver.

A 26-year-old Anacortes man reported his $1,000 black Specialized bike was stolen from where it was locked outside his apartment on Portage Lane some time since noon on Saturday, Nov. 4. The cable lock was cut.

Officers and medics helped someone get traction again after a motorized wheelchair got stuck in the mud at a sports event.

Officers were dispatched to the 1000 block of 20th Street after it was reported a woman just broke up a fight where two men were assaulting a third around 7 p.m. The victim was in her residence for safety. The victim, a 23-year-old Mount Vernon man, was transported to the hospital. He told officers that after purchasing marijuana with a friend, they went  to a home in Anacortes where the man was confronted by two other men. The fight started when one of the men punched the victim and the second man jumped in as well. The victim was able to run away but was followed by the two men. That was when the woman intervened. The victim believed his friend may have planned the incident. He did not want to pursue charges.

Monday, November 6, 2017

A city employee reported an attempted burglary at an equipment maintenance shed at Volunteer Park. About $100 in damage was done to the keyway for the deadbolt lock by drilling. The damage occurred sometime between Wednesday night and Sunday.

A juvenile found a bullet in his driveway and brought it to the police department. He was concerned it might be of interest to law enforcement. The 12-year-old was advised he could dispose of the round.

A 14-year-old girl called police after a man knocked on her front and back doors. Her friend went outside to get her phone to call 911 and found her phone had been moved onto the porch. Officers found that a neighbor’s friend had knocked on the door because one of the girls had left their cell phone on the sidewalk.

A resident reported an injured rabbit in the roadway on D Avenue. An officer found the rabbit off the roadway nearby. The officer notified a Fish and Wildlife agent, who said he would have the rabbit euthanized.

Officers were called to a fight around 10:40 p.m. in the area of Second Street and Commercial Avenue. The caller reported seeing a group of men wrestling in the street and it appeared two were trying to fight and the others were trying to separate them. It was determined the three involved were shipmates on a boat in dry dock. The men said two had gotten into a disagreement that escalated into a pushing match. They did not want to pursue charges. Officers noted they were laughing and joking with each other by the time officers arrived.

Shortly after, officers were called to a second fight on West Sixth Street. A man was reportedly trying to take the car keys from a friend after being concerned about his erratic driving. Breath tests on the 22-year-old Anacortes man led officers to believe he was impaired by a substance other than alcohol. The man was transported to the hospital for a blood draw. He was then cited for DUI and given a ride to his residence.  At his residence, which he shares with family members, it was learned he had earlier that evening kicked in the front and back doors. He faces an additional charge of domestic violence malicious mischief.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

A 34-year-old Anacortes man called police to report finding a possible stolen bicycle, which police had put out an email about, on the beach off the Tommy Thompson Trail. Police contacted a 40-year-old man with the bike. The man had a felony warrant and was taken into custody. Officers found suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia on his person. He was booked on his warrant and faces an additional drug charge. The bike was not an exact match for the reported stolen bike.

A caller reported an elderly woman, who was unable to walk, tried to get into her vehicle. The caller requested officers check on the woman. The 70-year-old woman was given a courtesy transport to the March Point Park and Ride.

An off-duty officer reported two dogs connected to a leash that was wrapped around a tree in a wooded area that had been there at least 30 minutes. The animal control officer found the two dogs and was able to untangle them and load them into the patrol vehicle. The officer located an owner, who was in a nearby business. The animal control officer explained that the dogs were tangled up, walking on thorn bushes and, should a predator come along, they would not be able to get to safety. It is illegal to tether an animal in the city. The dog owner assured the officer she would not tether the dogs again.

An officer pulled over a 28-year-old Anacortes man who was driving on a suspended license. During a search, the officer found a butterfly knife in his pocket. The man stated he paid $360 for the knife and said he had no idea it isn’t legal to carry it in the state. The officer deployed a K-9 around the vehicle and there was no response. He was cited for driving with license suspended and possession of a dangerous weapon. The knife was confiscated.

An 82-year-old Anacortes man reported receiving two calls from Quebec saying his grandson was in jail and he needed to send $8,000. The man did not send any money.

Roughly $500 worth of clothing and full moving boxes were reported stolen from a vehicle parked on K Avenue. The reporting parties had just moved here and hadn’t unloaded the car yet before going on a trip. The vehicle was locked.

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017

Two stand up paddleboards valued at $2,000 each were reported stolen from a private dock.

APD Officers were dispatched to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon to speak with a woman who had been injured by her ex-husband. The woman told police that her 53-year old ex-husband was drinking the previous night and the two got into a verbal argument and he grabbed her by the arms and pulled her down some stairs, injuring her back. A short time later, the man came to the hospital and officers spoke with him there. He smelled  of alcohol and stated that he had argued with his ex-wife the previous evening, but nothing physical had occurred. He was taken into custody and booked in jail on a domestic violence assault charge.

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Around dinnertime on Thursday, APD Officers were dispatched to a domestic dispute between a mother and daughter. In speaking with the mother, it was determined that her daughter had spit on her during a heated verbal argument. Officers were initially unable to speak with the daughter to hear her side of the story. Another officer met with the 30-year old daughter at her residence and took her into custody for 4th degree assault. She was booked in jail on her charge.

Friday, November 10, 2017

Just after 1:30 on Friday morning, an APD Officer on patrol on southbound R Avenue observed an older model Honda hatchback stop at the traffic signal at the intersection of SR 20 and R Avenue. The car was stopped even as the light turned green to allow it to advance through the intersection. The Honda veered abruptly to the right shoulder when the officer turned on his overhead lights to make a traffic stop. The driver, a 27-year old Anacortes man, smelled strongly of alcohol and had a difficult time responding to simple requests for required documentation of the vehicle and proof of insurance. The officer observed two empty six-packs of beer in the back seat of the car and a beer cap fell out of the driver’s pant leg as he stood up and was searched incident to arrest for DUI. He was taken to jail where he was booked on a DUI charge.

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.