On Saturday afternoon, July 12, Police received the report of an erratically driven vehicle that had struck a curb and was “all over the road” leaving town on State Route 20. An officer located the vehicle on the highway and saw it weaving and speeding before it slammed on its brakes for the red traffic light at Sharpes Corner. When the light turned green, the vehicle did not move and it appeared that the driver had passed out as he was slumped over the wheel. The officer was able to wake the driver who was identified as a 66-year-old Sinclair Island man after fumbling for a lengthy period for his license. The man smelled strongly of intoxicants and had droopy bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. Since the man was unable to safely operate his vehicle and it was blocking rush hour traffic, the vehicle was towed and he was taken to the police station for further processing, where he performed poorly on sobriety tests. The man refused to take the breath test and told the officer that he had “built this city” and had “supported all of the hospital bonds and port bonds” and for that he should get “a pass.” Instead the man was issued a citation charging him with DUI. He was then released to a sober friend.
Friday, July 12
10:23 am. Someone cut the padlock to a roll-up door on a 5th wheeler trailer parked in the 300 block of 34th Street and stole several sets of pliers/hand tools, batteries and battery packs, and the pneumatic motor and some fittings to a spray machine that were stored inside. The loss was estimated at approximately $750.
3:04 pm. A window that had been left partially open was believed to have been the entry point into a vehicle that was prowled in the 1700 block of 28th Street. The victim’s purse containing her debit card, credit cards, and a checkbook was stolen from the car. The victim then discovered that her credit card had been used to make several on-line purchases at an Auburn area gas station. The theft is under further investigation.
Saturday, July 13
8:39 am. A donation jar for the “Fat Disorder Research Society” was stolen off of a countertop adjacent to the cash register at a business in the 200 block of Commercial Avenue. The jar contained approximately $20.00 in change and dollar bills. There are no suspects at this time.
Sunday, July 14
12:30 pm. A 28-year-old Oklahoma man was sent a court summons for violating the terms of an anti-harassment order after he allegedly sent an Anacortes woman a text message that violated the terms of the court order. The woman showed an officer a text that stated, “I’m sorry. Have me arrested, but I had to tell you that.” The text originated from a phone number associated with the man. The court order barred the man from having “any contact whatsoever” with the woman.
10:50 pm. A witness reported seeing a group of juveniles trying to light a “porta-potty” on fire at the ball field on school grounds in the 2400 block of J Avenue. The juveniles were reported to be in a dark colored SUV that left the area prior to officer arrival. An empty firework container was on the ground outside of the portable bathroom and the officer found charred toilet paper inside on the floor. The outhouse also smelled strongly of smoke and the interior wall was charred, however there did not appear to be any structural damage. The identity of the juveniles is unknown at this time.
Monday, July 15
5:18 pm. An iPad valued at $500 was reported to have been stolen from a home in the 3900 block of R Avenue. The victim provided the name of a possible suspect who “knew the layout of the house” but was not welcome in the home. The 24-year-old male suspect also later reportedly admitted to the victim’s sister that he had stolen the iPad but that he had already “given it away.” The next day, an officer saw the suspect in the 900 block of 10tyh Street and took him into custody. The man denied having stolen the iPad, but then said that “it doesn’t matter because they don’t have it anymore.” The suspect would not elaborate on who had the iPad, but he did ask the officer, “If I told you who I sold it to, can I go home?” The man was booked into jail on investigative charges of trafficking in stolen property.
7:38 pm. An Anacortes woman who was walking near the intersection of 41st Street and Astrea Place suffered bloody knees and a possible shoulder injury after she was struck by a pickup driven by a 17-year-old Anacortes boy. The woman had been crossing the street walking eastbound when the pickup reportedly made a wide turn from 41st Street onto Astrea Place and struck her. The boy told an officer that he had been blinded by the sun. The boy was issued a traffic infraction for failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian and for operating a motor vehicle without liability insurance.
7:52 pm. A car parked in a lot at the State Ferry Terminal had its windshield smashed by what appeared to be a blunt object. It also appeared that the weather stripping along the edge of the windshield had been pried, but it did not appear that entry was made into the car.
Tuesday, July 16
10:01 am. Police responded to Storvik Park after receiving the report of an “unconscious” male under some children’s playground equipment. Officers contacted the 18-year-old Anacortes area transient and learned that he had just been sleeping. However, the man smelled of marijuana and had a baggy sticking out of his pocket. The man removed two plastic baggies containing marijuana from his pocket and also a glass smoking pipe that contained marijuana residue. The man was placed under arrest and a pipe with a brown tarry residue was found in his backpack. The man admitted he used the pipe to smoke heroin. The man was issued a criminal citation for unlawful possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia and then released.
2:30 pm. A 33-year-old Sedro Woolley woman was arrested for Investigation of Burglary after she pawned jewelry items that belonged to an elderly Anacortes woman she cared for. Police will be checking with other residents who might have also been victims and the matter is under further investigation.
2:46 pm. A resident of the 1000 block of 16th Street reported that he and his longtime girlfriend had broken up the previous week and that he suspected the 42-year-old woman of stealing several items from his home. The man said that he had “kicked out” the woman and told her not to return, but that she had let herself back in using her key. The man said that he was now missing a laptop computer with accessories, a pair of binoculars, an antique bible, and an antique 1896 era dance book. The loss was estimated at over $1,000. Police are seeking to speak with the woman.
Wednesday, July 17
12:08 pm. A 40-year-old Oak harbor man was arrested after a witness had seen him cut the lock and cable securing a bicycle that had been left parked near a coffee stand at the intersection of 21st Street and R Avenue. The man was contacted by police a few blocks away and he denied cutting the lock or having any intention of stealing the bike. The man had a smoking pipe in his possession that contained suspected methamphetamine residue, but the man denied any drug usage. The man was taken to the police station where he was issued a citation charging him with “criminal attempt” (for attempting to steal the bike) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
12:43 pm. A 57-year-old Ferndale woman was charged with misdemeanor theft after she was caught shoplifting at a grocery store in the 900 block of 11th Street. An employee had seen the woman receive drinks and food from the store deli and then pick out a bag of popsicles and leave the store without paying. The woman admitted that she had tried to steal the items. She was issued a criminal citation for the theft and also trespassed from the store.
1:19 pm. A 51-year-old Anacortes area transient woman was booked into jail on investigation of 2nd degree burglary charges after witnesses had seen the woman inside of a garage in the 1100 block of 11th Street. The door to the garage had been kicked in to allow entry. Police had previously issued the woman a trespass warning to stay off of the property at the property owner’s request. At the time of her arrest, the woman had several items of drug paraphernalia on her and she admitted that she was a heroin user. Police are also looking for a 45-year-old male transient who was also suspected of burglarizing the garage after he also had been previously trespassed. Witnesses had also seen the man inside of the garage, but he fled on foot when he heard the police arrive.
3:27 pm. A 52-year-old Lopez Island woman was arrested for theft after she was caught by employees shoplifting at a grocery store in the 900 block of 11th Street. The woman told police that she had “made a stupid mistake” and that she had “just wanted an expensive bottle of shampoo.” She was issued a citation charging her with theft in the third degree and released.
Thursday, July 18
11:06 am. An officer contacted a man and woman who were sleeping in the back of a truck in the 600 block of Market Street in violation of City code. The man was identified as a 33-year-old Kennewick resident who was the respondent in a no-contact order with an Eastsound woman. The woman initially provided the false name of a woman from Montana, but the officer accessed the Department of Licensing data base and confirmed that she was actually an Eastsound resident who was the protected person in the no-contact order. The man then attempted to run from the officer, but the officer caught him within a few steps. The man was arrested and booked into jail for violating the domestic violence protection order.
4:12 pm. A 45-year-old male transient was issued a criminal citation for disorderly conduct after witnesses heard him yelling profanities and waiving his arms and yelling at passing cars while walking on the sidewalk in the 700 block of Commercial Avenue. The screamed profanities occurred in the presence of several young children and their parents. Police had contacted the man at least six other times in the previous two days regarding similar complaints that included him walking out into roadway traffic while yelling and cursing. The man failed to heed several warnings about his behavior before he was finally arrested and cited. The man ripped his citation into several pieces and threw it into a trash can.
Friday, July 19
9:49 am. Three knitted three-inch wide headbands with decorative flowers were stolen from an antique shop in the 300 block of Commercial Avenue. The loss was estimated at $60.00 and there are no suspects at this time.