Watch later for the Police Blotter for the rest of this week.
An Anacortes man discovered that he had been the victim of identity theft after learning that someone had opened up a credit card account in his name and used it a number of locations until the limit was maximized. The man said that he had also received notice from a national department store that he had been turned down for their credit card even though he had never applied for their card. The man completed a credit check report which led to additional information that led to him providing police with the name of a possible suspect who was a former close friend of the victim. The matter, first reported on Monday, Nov. 19, is under further investigation.
Here are some other cases Anacortes Police worked on last week.
Friday, Nov. 16
2:31 pm. A red plastic Orion brand flare kit was stolen from a boat that was at a marine services business in the 900 block of 5th Street. The boat was parked under a carport at the business.
3:58 pm. A resident of the 800 block of 34th Street arrived home and discovered his laptop computer had been stolen. The victim said that he believed that he had secured his home when he left to go to an appointment. The victim told police that he was suspicious of a man that he had met while in jail that had come over to visit earlier in the day. The victim could not remember his “friend’s” name, but he told police that the man had been in trouble for possessing cocaine and selling stolen property. The victim believed that the possible suspect may have unlocked his front door without the victim’s knowledge prior to the suspect leaving. Police were able to identify and speak with the man, a 19-year-old Anacortes area transient, and he denied any knowledge or involvement in the theft. There is no evidence against the man at this time.
Saturday, Nov. 17
1:23 am. An officer stopped a car in the 1700 block of Commercial Avenue after seeing the vehicle dragging its exhaust pipe on the pavement causing a shower of sparks to be emitted several feet behind the vehicle. The driver, a 32-year-old Anacortes area man, had a suspended driver’s license and a warrant for his arrest for previously driving while suspended. He also had slurred speech, smelled of intoxicants, and had bloodshot eyes. The man admitted that he had just left a bar after having “a couple” of drinks. He failed field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest. When he was searched, the officer found a small amount of marijuana in the man’s pocket. During processing, the man provided breath samples that were almost 3 times the legal limit. The man told the officer that he did not believe that his driving had been affected by his alcohol use and that he believed he would have made it home even though he was oblivious to the dragging, sparking tailpipe. The man was issued citations for DUI, driving with a suspended license, and illegal possession of marijuana and then released to a sober friend after the jail would not take him on the warrant.
3:36 am. A 34-year-old Anacortes man was booked into jail for having two outstanding warrants for previous charges of reckless driving and domestic violence assault. Police had contacted the man to speak with him about his involvement in an altercation at a home in the 2400 block of D Avenue and then learned that he had arrest warrants. The man was booked into the county jail.
9:24 am. Numerous hand tools and electronic meters with an approximate value of $15,000 were stolen out of the trunk of a car that was parked in the rear lot of a hotel in the 400 block of Commercial Avenue while the victim was spending the night. The victim was positive that the vehicle had been locked. There were no signs of forced entry.
3:40 pm. Police went to a home in the 1200 block of Georgia Avenue to check for a 33-year-old man who lived at the home who had a felony warrant for his arrest for failing to appear at an omnibus hearing. They checked a detached garage on the property and found the doors to be locked. Officers knocked on the garage doors and the wanted man answered, but he refused to come outside even after being told he had a warrant and was under arrest. The man continued to refuse to come outside, so officers forced open the door and entered the garage. The man was found hiding in the loft under a pile of wood, blankets, and other items. He was arrested and officers found a baggy with methamphetamine residue in the man’s pocket. He was issued a citation charging him with possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest. He was booked into jail on the warrant.
8:04 pm. A 38-year-old man was arrested at a home in the 1100 block of 17th Street on charges of assault, harassment, and criminal trespass after he allegedly barged uninvited into his neighbor’s house and shoved his female neighbor in the chest. The man also allegedly struck his former girlfriend in the chest with a book he grabbed and threw at her. Neighbors confirmed that prior to forcing his way into the house, the man had been in the alley yelling profanities, spitting on cars, and throwing fireworks at his neighbor’s house. He was booked into jail.
Sunday, Nov. 18
11:20 am. A Mongoose brand mountain bike was stolen from the porch of a home in the 800 block of 30th Street during the night. An electrical amperage meter was also stolen out of the victim’s unlocked vehicle.
4:46 pm. A 24-year-old man was arrested at a home in the 600 block of Q Avenue for having a felony warrant and two misdemeanor warrants for his arrest. The warrants stemmed from a domestic violence protection order violation and possession of drug and drug paraphernalia charges. He was booked into jail.
Monday, Nov. 19
12:45 am. Police were dispatched to the report of a possible one-car accident in the 1200 block of 30th Street in which the female driver was reported to have been drinking. A witness told police that he had found the woman passed out behind the wheel. Officers arrived and found a car in the grass against a concrete retaining wall on the west side of Storvik Park and a woman staggering away from the car. The woman kept walking away even after being told to stop and that she was not free to leave. She was unsteady on her feet, had slurred speech, sluggish movements and she finally stopped after being given several commands. The woman told police that she had been driving the car, was not injured (which was confirmed by paramedics who had arrived), and that she had “two beers.” The woman refused to take field sobriety tests, but she was placed under arrest for being in physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. She was taken to the police station where she provided breath samples that were over two and half times the legal limit. The woman admitted that she had made a mistake and shouldn’t have been driving as she was “drunk.” The woman tried to give the officer her credit card so that she could “take care of her mistake” and not have to go to court. The offer was declined and the woman was issued a citation for physical control. She was released to a sober friend.
9:46 am. Police responded to the report of a burglary at the high school after it was discovered that someone had cut through a chain link fence and entered the shop area. A lock was found to have been broken off of a shed and a box of tools valued at $300 was missing. A lawn mower inside of the shed also had the gas siphoned out of it. A car parked inside of the fenced area also had damage to its fuel filler door. Police used security video to identify a possible suspect and the investigation is ongoing.
12:15 pm. A Chevy pickup was reported stolen from a car rental dealer in the 900 block of 25th Street after the woman who rented the truck failed to return it. The 45-year-old suspect had provided a false address in Burlington and a non-functioning phone number after displaying a Montana driver’s license to the rental company. Police learned that the suspect’s driver’s license was suspended and that she had several warrants for her arrest including one for possession of a controlled substance. The next day, a Skagit County Sheriff’s deputy located the pickup in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon Police assisted in taking the woman into custody on her warrants and being in possession of the stolen pickup. The woman faces additional charges of motor vehicle theft.
12:33 pm. Approximately 200 feet of electrical welding cable was stolen from a work area at a marina in the 3000 block of Oakes Avenue. It was believed that the cable had been stolen for its copper value that was estimated at $1,400. No suspects at this time.
7:15 pm. Anacortes Police assisted the Island County Sheriff’s Office in arresting a 31-year-old man at a home in the 1500 block of 16th Street as there was probable cause to arrest the man for charges of eluding, burglary, and possession of stolen property out of Island County. The man also had two warrants for his arrest out of Anacortes for disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia and a warrant out of the Department of Corrections for escape from community custody. The man had initially opened the door at the home, but then slammed the door when he saw police and fled deeper into the house after being informed he was under arrest. He refused to come out even after his mother pleaded with him. Police eventually located him hiding in the attic under some insulation. He was arrested and transferred into the custody of an Island County deputy. He was also issued a new citation charging him with resisting arrest.
Tuesday, Nov. 20
11:10 am. A 22-year-old Oak Harbor man was issued a court summons for violating a restraining order after he allegedly went to his father’s home in the 1100 block of 24th Street. The father told police that his son and his son’s girlfriend had knocked on the father’s door and then walked inside his apartment. The son also allegedly threatened his father prior to leaving. An active court order prohibited the son from having any contact with his father or being at the apartment. Police were unable to locate the son, so the summons was issued.
3:39 pm. A house in the 2200 block of 10th Street was broken into for the second time in less than two weeks. The second burglary was reported when it was discovered that a board that covered a broken window from the first burglary had been removed. Police checked the house with the person who reported the crime and they found that most of the drawers and cabinets in the home had been rifled through and were open. Two safes in the home were pried open and police found drug paraphernalia on the floor that was believed to belong to the unknown suspects. Police are working with the victim to determine a list of stolen property.
11:04 pm. An Anacortes man reported that his 41-year-old ex-girlfriend had stolen his Ford Mustang from a motel parking lot in the 900 block of 9th Street where the man was visiting a friend. Police went to the man’s house in the 1000 block of 16th Street where they located the missing car. The engine was still warm and police were aware that a no-contact order was in effect that prohibited the woman from being at the man’s house. The man returned and allowed police into his home where they found the woman hiding behind some furniture in the bedroom. The woman had the missing car’s keys in her pocket, although she denied having taken the car from the motel. The man said that he did not want to pursue charges against the woman since he got his keys and car back. The man also admitted that he had been allowing the woman to stay at his house in violation of the court order because he “did not want to see her out on the streets.” The woman was provided lodging at the county jail after she was arrested and booked for violating the no-contact order.