An alert Port of Anacortes Security Guard observed an intoxicated adult in some trouble in the 100 block of Commercial Ave. just before 2:00 AM on Sunday, Dec. 22. He contacted 911 after observing the man crawling on his hands and knees in the area of Curtis Wharf. An officer contacted the 27-year-old Anacortes man and found that he was soaking wet and bleeding from a cut on his nose. Investigation revealed that he was highly intoxicated and had wandered away from a party a few blocks away. Somewhere along the way he had fallen and cut his nose. It was unclear how he ended up so wet. An aid car was summoned and took over care for the intoxicated man. Temperatures were in the low 30’s at the time, so it was fortunate that he was discovered before risking hypothermia.
Here are some of the other cases Anacortes Police worked on this week.
Saturday, Dec. 21
4:27 pm. Officers responded to a business near 29th Street and Commercial after transient subject from California refused to leave the property when asked by employees. Upon the arrival of officers the man elected to leave rather than be arrested.
10:18 pm. A resident of Marion Way reported that someone had tossed some fireworks in to their yard. This was one of several fireworks complaints that were received this week by APD. Residents are reminded that the possession, purchase or discharge of fireworks in the city is illegal.
Sunday, Dec. 22
1:28 am. 911 received a call regarding a woman screaming in the area of 4th Street and Commercial Ave. Officers were already in the area doing some bar checks and found that the source of the screaming was a woman laughing and yelling at a friend.
0:30 am. A resident in the 1100 block of 37th Street called to report the theft of a package from her doorstep. She told the officer that she had ordered some slippers from Cabela’s and they were delivered on the 20th of December. She knew this because she had received email confirmation of the delivery. When she checked her front porch the package was gone.
11:11 am. Officers were advised of a possible assault in progress between a man and woman walking in the area of 14th Street and K Ave. They checked the area and eventually located the couple walking near Steinman’s Grocery. Investigation revealed that there had not been a physical altercation and no crime had been committed. However, it was also discovered that the 24-year-old Anacortes man had a warrant out for his arrest with a three-day mandatory commitment. He was taken in to custody and transported to the county jail.
10:56 pm. On officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle after observing it driving on Commercial Ave with expired registration tabs. The driver of the car was found to have a license that was suspended / revoked in Washington. Further, his privilege to drive was also suspended in Florida. The reason for suspension was a failure to pay for traffic tickets that he’d received. He also admitted to the officer that he no longer had insurance coverage on the vehicle as required. The 36-year-old Anacortes man was arrested and issued a citation for driving on a suspended license. He was also issued a ticket for driving without proof of insurance.
Monday, Dec. 23
1:42 am. An officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle on Oakes Ave after observing that it had a brake light out. He recognized a passenger in the vehicle as a 22-year-old Anacortes man that had misdemeanor warrants out for his arrest for failure to appear in court for DUI and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charges. He took the man in to custody and transported him to the Police station. The jail was too crowded to accept the man, so he was given a new court date and released.
5:50am. Shortly before 6:00 AM a man called 911 and reported seeing a full-size Chevy truck driving erratically near the traffic circle on Commercial Ave. As Officers began to check the area Police Chief Bowers came on the radio and stated that a vehicle matching that description had almost just hit her car on 32nd Street. She turned around and made a traffic stop on the vehicle while other officers also responded to the location. The 19-year-old driver of the truck was found to be highly intoxicated. He admitted to drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana and also ingesting “synthetic meth.” He was also carrying some pills in his pocket. Further investigation revealed that the truck was stolen from a friend of his. After being seen at the hospital, the driver was booked in to the Skagit County Jail.
5:55 am. The US Coast Guard reported that they were on the phone with a caller from the Washington State Ferry Terminal who was making non-sensical, rambling statements. Officers checked on the man and found that he had some mental health issues and that he was trying to find a way to get some help. At his request, the Friday Harbor resident was taken to Island Hospital to meet with a mental health professional.
6:49 am. Just before 7:00 AM a 19-year-old Anacortes woman called 911 and reported that she had just been assaulted as she was walking near the intersection of 26th Street and Q Ave. The victim was not injured and the matter is still under investigation.
2:25 pm. A man called 911 to complain that a neighbor had thrown a soup bone into some nearby grass at the apartment complex where he lives, causing crows to come around. The crows were making a lot of noise, which was bothering the reporting party. He was advised to contact the property manager.
9:00 pm. A bartender from a local bar called to report than a man had jumped over the bar, grabbed a pitcher of beer, and then run from the establishment. He and the woman that he was with left the bar without paying for the pitcher, most of which spilled on the ground. Officers were able to identify the man and his wife, but the bartender stated that she would settle the outstanding tab and address the behavior the next time that she saw the couple.
9:11 pm. Officer responded to a minor-damage accident at the intersection of 17th Street and Q Avenue. No one was injured in the accident, which was caused by a 33-year-old Anacortes man in a Jeep. The investigating officer noted signs of impairment and conducted a DUI investigation, resulting in the arrest of the Jeep driver. He was taken to the office and given a breath test. His breath test results were three and a half times the legal limit. He was issued a citation for DUI and his car was impounded.
Tuesday, Dec. 24
12:21 pm. A resident of 25th H Court called 911 and reported that a man had come from a bank to serve papers on him and then take pictures of his house. The resident said that when he objected to the man taking pictures and told him to leave, the paper-server produced a gun and pointed it at the reporting party before getting back in his truck and driving away. The investigation in to this matter continues.
12:445 pm. A woman reported that she had written a $25.00 check to a friend, but that someone had cashed it after altering the check to read $250.00. She said that she wrote the check some time ago, and then had just found out that her friend had recently passed away, so she was not sure who could have altered and cashed the check. An officer investigated and found that a relative of the decedent had access to the check and had altered it and cashed it. Criminal charges are likely forthcoming.
2:55 pm. A woman called to report that she received a scam phone call from someone claiming to be with a payday loan company. The caller tried to convince the woman that she had an outstanding loan and she needed to bring it current or face collection fees. The woman realized that this was a scam call and ended the call. This was one of several scam phone complaints received by APD this week. This time of year the scammers are very busy trying to separate you from your money. Remember to never give out confidential financial or personal information over the phone or computer unless you can verify who you are dealing with. Reports scams and scam attempts to the Federal government Computer Crime Center at WWW.IC3.ORG.
9:29 pm. A group of adults were contacted lighting off fireworks on Croatian Way. They agreed to stop and were reminded that fireworks are illegal in the city.
11:45 pm. Officers responded to a residence on 38th Street after it was reported that a man had broken down the front door. Investigation revealed that the 39-year-old Anacortes man had broken the front door while trying to get in to the house, prompting a woman inside to call her daughter, who then called 911. Once things were sorted out the family decided that they did not want to press charges against the man, who was a friend of the family and intoxicated. They did request that he leave and not return to the residence. The man was given a courtesy ride home by an officer.
Wednesday, Dec. 25
2:25 am. After making a traffic stop in the 1200 block of J Ave an officer ended up arresting the driver because his license was suspended. He was searched incident to his arrest before being placed in a police car and some foil was found in his coat pocket. The officer recognized the contents of the foil to be heroin and the man was advised he was also under arrest for felony possession of a controlled substance. Due to jail overcrowding, he was released from the scene. He was advised that charges would be forthcoming.
9:19 pm. A caller reported seeing a flare over the water to the east of 27th Street. The area was thoroughly checked boat no other flares were seen and no boaters in distress were located.
10:25 pm. Officers responded to an address on West 3rd Street where a family argument was reported. After interviewing all parties involved it was found that the only physical action taken by any family member had been well within the boundaries of allowable parental discipline and no crime had occurred. Officers departed after everyone had calmed down.
Thursday, Dec. 26
2:41 am. An officer saw a man riding a bike in an alleyway at about 2:40 AM near 4th Street. She recognized him and ran a records check, which showed that he had a warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear on a charge of Violation of a Court Order. The warrant was out of a Marysville Court and there was no bail. The Skagit County Jail would not book the suspect due to overcrowding, so arrangements were made to transport the 39-year-old Anacortes man part of the way to Marysville and meet with one of their officers. The exchange was completed and the subject handed over to Marysville PD Officer.