Early Saturday morning, Dec. 28, officers were summoned to an apartment complex in the 2100 block of Commercial Ave after a partially-clothed woman was reported there asking that the police be called to help her. Officers located a dazed woman who told them that her boyfriend had assaulted her and bound her with duct tape to prevent her from leaving. Officers found the 39-year-old Bellingham suspect in an apartment in the complex. They also found evidence that he had duct-taped his girlfriend’s arms and mouth to keep her from leaving the apartment and from making any noise. The suspect was arrested and booked in to jail on charges of Assault in the 2nd Degree and Unlawful Imprisonment, both of which are felonies.
Here are some of the other cases Anacortes Police worked on this week.
Saturday, Dec. 28
1:20 am. Two Anacortes men were arrested for Disorderly Conduct after an Officer observed them fighting in front of a bar in the 300 block of Commercial Ave. The officer broke up the fight and got the two men separated. After being interviewed, both men were cited and released and left the area on foot. Each agreed to appear for an upcoming court date.
1:57 am. An off-duty Department of Corrections Officer called 911 after observing an erratically-driven white pickup truck coming in to Anacortes on Highway 20. He kept the vehicle under observation and advised dispatchers of its location until it came to a stop in the 3600 of R Ave. An officer arrived a moment later and the DOC Officer as well as other concerned citizens pointed out the driver to the APD Officer. A DUI investigation at the scene led to the arrest of the 30-year-old Anacortes man. His truck was impounded and he was taken to the Police Station where he subsequently provided breath samples almost double the legal limit for intoxication. After being issued a citation for DUI, the man was released to his father, as the jail was overcrowded.
5:30 pm. A 36-year-old Anacortes woman was arrested for DUI after a citizen called in and reported that she was weaving down the road and seemed impaired. An officer got behind the suspect’s vehicle and also observed that it was weaving; a traffic stop was made near Hwy 20 and R Ave. The driver was obviously intoxicated and she was placed under arrest. Her vehicle was impounded and she was taken to the Police Station, where she provided breath samples almost three times the legal limit. She was released to a sober adult as the jail was overcrowded.
Sunday, Dec. 29
12:04 am. Officer were dispatched to a possible prowler near an address on 17th Street. Instead, they found two Anacortes teenagers on a front lawn, one of whom was obviously intoxicated. The intoxicated teen, who could barely stand on his own, was arrested for underage consumption of alcohol and transported home. Charges have been filed through the Prosecutor’s Office.
7:38 pm. A citizen reported a suspicious man that was hanging around in the alleyway behind a closed business in the 2700 block of Commercial Ave. Officers located a transient subject who stated he was hanging around the back of the business just to try and stay out of the weather. A record check showed the man had a misdemeanor warrant. He was arrested and taken to the office, where he was issued a new court date and released.
Monday, Dec. 30
4:50 am. A resident of Haddon Lane called to report that he had been awakened by his growling dog, looked out a window, and saw someone going through his truck in front of his house. He ran outside and chased the male suspect, who ran off to the southeast in the direction of Whistle Lake Road. Officers searched the area, but did not locate the suspect. A check of the vehicle showed that the thief was interrupted prior to being able to steal anything.
3:41 pm. An Anacortes Officer made a traffic stop on Hwy 20 and discovered that the driver of the vehicle had a suspended license. He cited the driver for that crime and also discovered that Burlington Officers were looking for the driver and vehicle in connection with a hit and run accident that occurred in their city. Photos and information regarding the driver and vehicle were gathered and passed along to the Burlington Police Department.
4:38 pm. A 77-year-old Anacortes woman called 911 to report that her 54-year-old daughter was being argumentative and causing problems. Officers arrived and spoke with both women. Investigation revealed that the daughter had a warrant out for her arrest for Disorderly Conduct and she was arrested and transported to the Police Department. Due to jail overcrowding, she was issued a new court date and released. She agreed not to go back to her mother’s house for a while in order to avoid continuing the argument.
Tuesday, Dec. 31
1:56 am. An officer noted a vehicle fail to stop for a stop sign at 27th and R Ave. She activated her overhead lights and the vehicle continued to drive in to a nearby alleyway. It stopped behind an apartment complex and the driver tried to quickly get out of the vehicle and walk off. He was directed back in to the car by the Officer and the ensuing investigation revealed that his license was suspended in the 2nd degree. He was released after he was given a citation and court date for driving on a suspended license.
8:49 pm. A resident on 17th St called 911 to report aerial fireworks going off in their neighborhood. This was one of about a two dozen fireworks complaints that were investigated by officers on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s day. Residents are reminded that purchase, possession and / or discharge of fireworks inside the city limits is illegal.
11:17 pm. As an Officer was driving down Commercial Ave she observed a woman running through a parking lot trying to cover her face. She recognized the woman as a 22-year-old Anacortes woman with misdemeanor warrants out for her arrest and contacted her and took her in to custody. A search of the woman and her purse revealed that she had several pieces of burnt foil, and some metal tools consistent with drug paraphernalia used for the ingestion of heroin. She was cited for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and given a new court date for her warrant. The jail would not accept her for booking due to overcrowding.
Wednesday, Jan. 1
1:03 am. A woman contacted an Anacortes Officer outside of a downtown bar to report that she had been assaulted by another female bar patron. The other woman had already left the bar, but she has been identified and officers are seeking her out. The investigation in to the assault is ongoing.
1:41 am. An Officer contacted a car full of people parked in the 1100 block of 12th Street after recognizing a male subject in the car as someone with a warrant out for his arrest. She had the male step out of the vehicle and he initially tried to quickly take off his coat. He was instructed to leave his coat on and was placed in handcuffs. A search revealed that he was carrying cash, methamphetamine and heroin in his coat and pants. Other information gathered during the investigation led Officers to believe that the man was dealing drugs and he was booked in to jail for Investigation of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, a felony.
12:19 pm. The manager of a storage facility on Summit Park Road called to report a burglary. Investigation at the scene showed that someone had cut a lock off of a gate leading in to the facility, and then cut four locks off of storage lockers. Two of the lockers were empty, but the other two contained customer’s items. Officers are working with the renters of the lockers to determine exactly what was stolen.
Thursday, Jan. 2
12:17 pm. A 911 caller reported two people panhandling for money and throwing garbage out of their car near the Guemes Ferry Terminal. Officers contacted the couple and learned that they had been panhandling to try and raise enough money to make the ferry crossing to the island. They admitted to throwing some garbage on the ground and the Officers had them clean the garbage up. After everything was cleaned up they were allowed to board the ferry and be on their way.
1:09 pm. A 911 caller reported hearing a loud argument going on between a man and a woman in the parking area adjacent to the Washington State Ferry terminal. Upon arrival, Officers contacted a 39-year-old Anacortes man and his 32-year-old girlfriend from Oak Harbor. A records check showed that both subjects had warrants out for their arrest. In addition, there was a court order between them that prohibited the man from having any contact with the woman. Both were placed under arrest and searched. The woman was found to be carrying methamphetamine in her pant’s pocket. She told officers that she had borrowed the pants from a friend and had no idea that there were drugs in the pocket. She was also found to be in possession of a large number of collector coins, some expensive watches, and other jewelry items. Further investigation has shown that these items were taken in a residential burglary in Island County.
Friday, Jan. 3
1:22 am. An Officer utilizing a radar gun observed a vehicle traveling at over fifty miles an hour in the 30 MPH on Oakes Ave. He pulled out and to make a traffic stop and the vehicle pulled in to a garage of a nearby residence. The driver initially closed the garage door, but then quickly reconsidered and reopened the door to speak with the Officer. A DUI investigation led the Officer to believe that the driver was intoxicated and he was placed under arrest. In accordance with state law, his vehicle was towed and impounded, which revealed that the driver had actually driven into the garage and failed to stop, striking the garage wall and damaging his car. The suspect was taken to the Police Station, where he provided breath samples that were well over the legal limit of .08. He was issued a citation for DUI with an upcoming court date and then released to a sober adult.
4:49 am. Officers discovered that while they were out handling calls, someone had climbed in to the fenced vehicle storage area behind the Police Station and slashed several car tires on Police cars. The suspect left some evidence at the scene and further investigation is ongoing. If you have information regarding this crime, contact the APD Tip Line at 360-299-1985, or contact CRIMESTOPPERS of Puget Sound online. There is a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.
10:20 am. A city employee requested an Officer come to the baseball fields located at Volunteer Park on 13th Street. Employees there had discovered that someone had painted vulgar graffiti all over the inside of the baseball field dugouts. City staff estimated that it was going to cost at least $250 to repaint the damaged and deface areas of the park.
11:02 am. A 911 caller reported seeing a teenaged male that appeared to be intoxicated. An officer located the 17-year-old Anacortes teen near 23rd and Q Ave. The teenager denied drinking any alcohol, but admitted that he had just smoked a lot of marijuana and was very high. A records check revealed that there was a felony warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear for court on a felony property crime charge. He was also found to be carrying a double-edged knife, which is illegal. Officers took the young man to the hospital where he was declared fit for jail. He was then transported to Mount Vernon and booked in to the Juvenile Detention Center.