Updated Dec. 28 with the addition of two items on Dec. 24.
Twas the week before Christmas and police cases included: 2 men tossed 2 Christmas trees into a truck and drove off without paying...and a car and several chainsaws stolen in Friday Harbor, but which appeared here.
Friday, December 18
A resident of the 500 block of 4th Street reported his apartment had been burglarized and that he was missing an envelope that contained over $800 in cash that he was planning to use for Christmas gifts. There was no sign of forced entry and the actual method of entry into the home was unknown.
A man who exited a convenience store in the 7600 block of SR 20 found a paper sack on the ground next to his vehicle. When the man checked the sack, he discovered a small baggy of marijuana. The man called the police who took the marijuana for destruction.
A woman heard a crash outside of her home and discovered a Ford Explorer had crashed into her van that had been parked in the 800 block of L Avenue. The driver of the Explorer fled the scene prior to the woman coming outside and the police arriving. The Explorer was registered to a 28-year-old Anacortes man who police contacted a short time later walking a few blocks away. The man was belligerent towards officers and obviously intoxicated, and claimed that he had not been driving. Police found inconsistencies in the man’s story that a friend had given him a ride home from a local bar. The man’s friends also gave inconsistent stories on how the man had gotten home from the bar. The man was placed under arrest for investigation of leaving the scene of an accident and drunk driving. The screamed obscenities at officers throughout their entire contact and refused to take a breath test. He was booked into jail.
Saturday, December 19
An officer stopped a car in the 2800 block of Commercial Avenue for having expired license tabs and identified the driver as a 33-year-old Anacortes woman. The woman smelled strongly of intoxicants, had watery eyes, and slightly slurred speech. She said that she had “one” glass of wine earlier at a party. The woman preformed poorly on field sobriety tests including providing a portable breath test that was over twice the legal limit. She was placed under arrest for drunk driving and taken to the police station for processing. The woman admitted she had lied and had actually had three glasses of wine and some champagne. She was issued a citation for DUI after giving breath samples that again were over twice the legal limit. She was released to her husband.
An officer smelled the strong odor of marijuana coming from inside of a vehicle he had stopped in the 1100 block of 7th Street for having expired license tabs. The driver, an 18-year-old Anacortes man, appeared very nervous and claimed that neither he not his two passengers had been smoking marijuana nor was there any in the car. The driver was placed under arrest for investigation of being in possession of marijuana and a baggy of marijuana was located in his pant pocket. The man then admitted he had smoked marijuana a couple of hours earlier. Police also located a metal crusher inside of the car that contained marijuana residue. The driver was cited for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and released.
A customer witnessed two unknown men throw two Christmas trees into the back of a pickup and then leave a business in the 1500 block of Commercial Avenue without paying for the trees. The pickup was registered to a Sedro-Woolley man. Officers checked the area for the vehicle and attempted to contact the owner without success. The matter is under further investigation.
A 36-year-old man was arrested for domestic violence assault after he allegedly slapped his wife in the face a few times during the course of an argument at their home in the 1800 block of Down Jones Way. The wife had been holding the couple’s three-year-old child and the child had also allegedly been slapped by the father while he had been trying to hit his wife. Both adults had been drinking and alcohol appeared to be a factor in the argument. The husband admitted that he had slapped his wife “once” and that he had been “wrong.” He was booked into jail.
Sunday, December 20
A man living in the 2100 block of E Avenue heard a crash outside of his house and it was discovered that a support cable to a telephone pole in front of the man’s house had been snapped off. Tire tracks indicated that a vehicle had left the roadway, crossed the man’s driveway, and then took out the cable. The offending vehicle is unknown.
The owners of a business in the 1000 block of Commercial Avenue reported that they were suspicious that an unknown amount of money had been embezzled during the past year. The alleged thefts possibly go back into further years and the owner is working on providing transaction and financial documentation. The owner provided the names of two possible suspects and the matter is under investigation.
A wallet belonging to a Mount Vernon woman was reported stolen from an unlocked car that had been parked in a lot in the 400 block of O Avenue. The wallet contained the victim’s credit cards and a pay stub.
A Bellevue man reported the theft of a battery charger, a crab pot puller, and the custom fitted canvas from his 12 foot inflatable boat that had been stored in yard at a marine business in the 2400 block of T Avenue. The theft occurred sometime since Thanksgiving and the loss was estimated at over $1,000.
Monday, December 21
A diamond plated toolbox valued at $250 containing approximately $100 in assorted hand tools was stolen from the front porch of a home in the 500 block of 5th Street. There are no suspects at this time.
Someone entered an unlocked vehicle parked in the 1800 block of 11th Street and stole $150 in cash, a men’s hat, and 60 prescription pills valued at $30.
An unlocked vehicle parked in a parking garage in the 1000 block of 20th Street was prowled and a bottle containing 50 prescription pain pills was stolen. Also missing were two boxes of candy and some pictures.
A woman reported that she had been sitting in her car in the Guemes Ferry line when her 28-year-old brother showed up and began to argue with her. The woman said that the argument escalated to the point where her brother became enraged and punched her car window causing the glass to shatter. An officer made phone contact with the brother who admitted to punching the window. The man said that he had only reacted to his sister calling his future wife a derogatory name. The man was issued a citation via a court summons for domestic violence malicious mischief.
Tuesday, December 22
An officer contacted three men near 5th Street and T Avenue after responding to the complaint that subjects matching the men’s descriptions had been shooting off fireworks. The men denied discharging fireworks but kept placing their hands back in their pockets after being instructed to keep them out. All 3 men consented to pat down searches for officer safety reasons and one of the men, a 22-year-old Anacortes resident, told an officer that he had “something” in his pocket. The officer then removed a glass smoking pipe containing burnt marijuana. The man admitted the pipe was his and he was issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia before being released.
An officer responded to a home in the 4600 block of Devonshire Drive regarding the report of suspicious activity in which an unknown man was seen unloading a number of chainsaws and other tools from a Honda Element into a shed. The car and the man left before subsequent investigation linked the items to burglaries in San Juan County. It was also learned that the Honda had been stolen from a victim in Friday Harbor. Anacortes Police are working with the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office to locate the stolen property and the 34-year-old suspect.
A 44-year-old Anacortes man was arrested at his home in the Skyline area on an outstanding warrant out of Skagit County District Court for a previous suspended driving offense. The man was provided with a new court date and released due to jail overcrowding.
A car parked in a parking lot in the 900 block of 17th Street had an “x” scratched into the paint of the of a rear door. The victim told police that similar damage had happened to another door a week prior at the same location. The victim did not have any possible suspect information.
A 16-year-old Anacortes boy was arrested for domestic violence assault after he allegedly punched his father in the stomach and the jaw at their home in the 2600 block of Fir Crest Blvd. The father had swelling to his face and he said that his tooth also might be broken. The boy had reportedly been arguing with his parents about going to his grandparent’s house prior to punching his father. The boy left after the assault and was later arrested at a friend’s house. He was booked into juvenile detention.
Wednesday, December 23
A hit-and-run accident was reported to a car parked in the 800 block of 28th Street. The vehicle sustained damage to its fender, hood, and front bumper. The damage was estimated at $750. A witness had seen a smaller sized pickup truck with a silver canopy stop next to the damaged car and the male driver examining the damage. Officers are attempting to locate the pickup for further investigation.
An Anacortes teen reported the theft of his red Mongoose bicycle after leaving it overnight in the lobby of the public library. The bike was valued at $150.
The father of a 43-year-old Anacortes man called police to report that his son was on the father’s boat without his permission. The boat was moored at a marina in the 1000 block of Q Avenue. The father said that his son had substance abuse problems and was not welcome on the boat. The father had checked on his boat due to a previous break-in and found his son sleeping on board. Police arrived and also found the son on board. The son admitted he knew he was not supposed to be on the boat but denied ever breaking into it. The son was arrested for criminal trespass and taken to the police station where he was issued a citation and then released.
Thursday, December 24
Officers approached two men seated curbside in the 1000 block of 4th Street after one of the men appeared to be smoking drugs. The two men began to quickly walk away when they saw the police approaching and then began to run away while ignoring police commands to stop. After a short foot pursuit, an officer caught one of the men and identified him as a 28-year-old Seattle resident. The man strongly of marijuana and immediately apologized for running from the officer. The man had a small amount of marijuana and a marijuana smoking pipe in his pockets. Police found a backpack on the sidewalk where the men had fled from and the man in custody said it belonged to the other man. The man in custody said that he did not know the other man and had simply been “hanging out smoking weed” with him. The officers found more marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the backpack, but nothing that indicated ownership. The items were taken as evidence. The man in custody was issued a citation for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and released.
The owner of a business in the 700 block of R Avenue discovered that someone had tried to break in by picking the lock on the door. A locksmith was summoned and removed a small metal tool that had been inserted into the keyway. The unknown burglar did not make entry into the building.
A car driven by a 31-year-old Buckley woman was totaled after it was struck from behind while traveling westbound on SR 20 by a van driven by a 31 year old Mount Vernon man. The woman and two children in her car escaped injury though. The woman had slowed for traffic and the driver of the van did not react in time. The van driver was cited for following too closely.
The owner of a car parked at a home in the 1500 block of 13th Street discovered that someone had broken off the exterior handle to the driver’s door. The door was rendered unable to open from the outside, but it appeared that entry to the interior of the car had been unsuccessful.