Officers responded to a motor vehicle accident on SR 20 near Reservation Road on Wednesday, Jan. 6, in which one vehicle had rear ended another car. No injuries were reported at the time, but the driver of the car that was struck from behind surprisingly ran from the scene on foot.
A passenger in the struck vehicle identified the driver as a 21-year-old Anacortes man and it was learned that he had 4 warrants for his arrest. Police learned the man was in the waiting area at Island Hospital's emergency room. The man attempted to walk away from an officer at the hospital, but gave up when informed the exits were covered by other officers. He was placed under arrest for the warrants as well as leaving the scene of an accident. The man said that he had left the scene of the accident because he did not want to be arrested for his warrants.
A small amount of marijuana and a baggy with white residue was found on the man during a search incident to his arrest. The man received citations for driving with a suspended driver’s license and not having an interlock device, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and obstructing. The jail would not accept the man for booking, and he was released after also getting new court dates on the warrants.
Here are some of the other cases the Anacortes Police Department worked on this past week.
Friday, January 8
A woman who left her apartment in the 500 block of T Avenue for an appointment returned home to find someone had entered her apartment through an unlocked door and stole several items. Reported missing were $175 in assorted retail store gift cards, a $150 down jacket, an iPod speaker kit valued at $25, a bottle of perfume, and two necklaces valued at $30 each. There are no suspects at this time.
A volunteer at a shop in the 1000 block of 7th Street reported the theft of her wallet from inside of her purse. The purse had been in a room that was exclusively used by the volunteers. The purse contained the victim’s identification, credit card, social security card, and $40 in cash.
A metal mailbox in the 3600 block of W. 5th Street was believed to have been blown up by an unknown type of firework. The mailbox was completely blown from its post and the damage was estimated at $50. A neighbor reported that she had heard a loud explosion on New Years Eve and saw smoke coming from the area of the mailbox, but she did not see anyone in the area.
A woman who was walking her dog in the area of the 4700 block of Fidalgo Bay Road returned to her car and discovered that someone had tampered with the rear door. The locking mechanism to the door sustained approximately $300.00 in damage, but nothing appeared to be missing from inside of the vehicle.
Saturday, January 9
Police responding to a loud party complaint at an apartment in the 1200 block of 29th Street in which it was reported that several people appeared to be underage while drinking. Officers could also smell the odor of marijuana coming from the apartment. One officer took a 20-year-old Anacortes man into custody after the man climbed out a back window and resisted an officer’s attempt to detain him by climbing back through the window with the officer hanging on to him. When police entered the apartment, they found numerous beer cans scattered about and a marijuana pipe. Three other Anacortes residents who were underage were found to have been drinking inside the apartment and were charged with underage drinking. The 20-year-old man was cited for MIP and resisting arrest.
A car parked in the 900 block of 28th Street was prowled while the owner was at work at an adjacent business. Entry was believed to have been made by reaching through a partially opened window. Missing from inside were the victim’s purse containing her identification and credit cards and a plastic CD case containing approximately 20 music compact discs.
Police are investigating the theft of a debit card from a home in the 2600 block of Shannon Point Road. The card was then used to withdraw over $900 at a local casino and records are pending of more unauthorized withdrawals. The victims provided the name of a possible suspect and the matter is under investigation.
A bartender at a bar in the 300 block of Commercial Avenue was allegedly punched in the face by a 24-year-old Anacortes man who was patron. The bartender said that he knew of no reason why the man would attack him, but that the man had been causing trouble recently at the bar. Police were unsuccessful in locating the man that night and are still looking to speak with him about his version of the incident.
Sunday, January 10
A Honda 50 cc dirt bike was stolen from a garage in the 1100 block of 15th Street. Entry into the garage was made through an unlocked door. The victim had seen a suspicious teenaged male walking in the area a few days earlier, but his identity and involvement in the crime is unknown.
Police arrested a 34-year-old Oregon man after he allegedly punched his wife and tried to drag her to a car outside of a motel in the 1100 block of 6th Street. The man claimed that he and his wife had just been arguing, but a witness saw him punching his wife. The wife said that they had argued after they had gotten kicked out of a bar when her husband tried to pick a fight with another man. She said that her husband had punched her in the side of the head, but she declined medical attention. The woman said that her husband had recently been released from jail in Oregon for a previous assault on her. The man was booked into jail on a new domestic violence assault charge.
Monday, January 11
A pickup for sale at a car dealership in the 12600 block of Thompson Road had two windows broken out with rocks and 2 headlight assemblies valued at $200 each stolen off it. The moon roof to the truck was also dimpled and the door frames cracked. Employees at the dealership said that it was possible that the incident was a failed attempt at stealing the truck.
An Oak Harbor woman who inadvertently left her purse at business in the 2700 block of Commercial Avenue returned to find it had been stolen. Missing with the purse were the woman’s ID, credit cards, $25 in gift cards, a digital camera valued at $215, a cell phone, and approximately $60 in cash. Before the woman could cancel her credit cards, they were used at three different Whidbey Island convenience stores. Island County authorities are assisting in the investigation.
A mailbox in the 4600 block of Blakely Drive had its flag broken off and was filled with lava rocks. Police spoke with a 10-year-old neighbor boy who denied any involvement.
A travel trailer owned by a Lopez Island business that was parked at the State Ferry Terminal had a window broken and two propane bottles stolen off of it. The bottles were valued at $80.00. Also missing was the license plate to the trailer.
Tuesday, January 12
Someone entered a garage in the 1600 block of L Avenue and stole the in-dash car stereo from an unlocked vehicle that was parked inside. The stereo was valued at $200. Also missing from the garage were two plastic tool boxes containing assorted hand tools. The victim said that the garage door had been inadvertently left unlocked.
An Apple iPod Touch valued at $200 was reported stolen from a locker in the boy’s locker room at the high school.
An officer on patrol found an approximate truck load amount of garbage had been dumped near the beach access on Cabana Lane. Items found in the trash linked it to an address in the 4600 block of Devonshire Drive. Officers were unable to get a response at the home, but future contact with the resident is pending.
A 20-year-old woman was arrested at her home in the 2200 block of 17th Street after she had allegedly gotten mad at her 17-year-old sister and thrown several items at her. Other family members said that the woman had thrown and broken a glass, and also threw several boxes. Officers saw numerous items and broken glass strewn on the floor. The woman had also allegedly tried to punch her sister, but a male friend held the woman back and the punches did not connect. The woman refused to speak with police about had happened and would only say it was a “family matter.” The woman was booked into jail for domestic violence malicious mischief.
Wednesday, January 13
A 69-year-old Anacortes man received a puncture wound to his thigh after being bitten by a dog in a parking lot at Washington Park. The man had been walking past a van when the door opened and the dog jumped out before it could be leashed by the dog owner’s neighbors who were taking it out for a walk. The dog was current on its rabies shots and the neighbors were advised to make sure the dog was leashed before opening the vehicle door. The victim was not seriously hurt.
A 26-year-old Anacortes man reported that he had been punched in the face and knocked out while he had been walking through the alley behind a business in the 1000 block of 22nd Street. The man said that the assault had occurred 2 days earlier and that he had gone to the emergency room where he was told the injury would require surgery due to some bones around his eye and nose being broken. The man said that he had not seen or heard anything before being hit and that he was alone in the alley when he regained consciousness. The man said that he had not been robbed nor could he think of any reason why someone would want to assault him. He mentioned that he had consumed three beers at a nearby tavern but had not argued with anyone while there. At this time, the suspect is unknown.
Thursday, January 14
A resident of the 1100 block of 19th Street discovered a chainsaw in his garage that did not belong to him and contacted the police. A name was written on the saw and police contacted the LaConner man and learned the saw had been stolen sometime in the past 3 weeks from his vehicle that had been parked off of Snee-Oosh Road. The saw was given to a Swinomish Police Department officer for return to its owner. It is unknown who put the saw in the Anacortes resident’s garage.
A 10-year-old boy told his mother that he had seen an unknown teenaged boy masturbating in the shower the previous month at a local swimming pool facility. The mother then contacted the pool staff who contacted the police. The pool staff had not had any other reports of similar activity and the teen’s identity is unknown.
A Next brand “Hardtail” bicycle was reported stolen from the bike rack at the Middle School after a friend of the bike owner had left it at the school overnight. The bike was valued at approximately $100.
Officers responded to a home in the 1100 block of 11th Street regarding the report that a 39-year-old woman had taken several prescription pills in an effort to harm herself. The woman was transported by paramedics to the emergency room where she admitted that she had been trying to kill herself because she was “overwhelmed.” A Superior Court order prohibited the woman from contacting her sister or brother-in-law who lived at the house. She was later sent a court summons for the charge of violating the court order.
A car parked at a house in the 3800 block of W. 4th Street was broken into during the night and a Dell laptop computer and a calculator stolen from inside. The total loss was approximately $500. The victim reported the car had been locked and that the driver’s door locked had been damaged during the theft.
Friday, January 15
A 20-year-old man was arrested at a home in the 2700 block of Dundee Place after he allegedly hit his brother in the face after they had argued over a jacket. The man admitted he had struck his brother but said he was mad because his brother was moving out of state without him. The man was booked into jail for domestic violence assault. An 18-year-old friend at the house was cited for underage drinking after an officer smelled alcohol on him and he admitted to having “a couple of beers.”