Officers were called to the parking lot of a Commercial Ave market after an argument broke out between several drivers on Monday morning. Investigation revealed that two of the drivers had exited Interstate 5 near each other and one felt that the other had cut the other off. All the way to Anacortes on Highway 20 the drivers gestured and antagonized one-another, according to a witness that spoke with the Police. Both vehicles came to a stop in the store parking lot and the argument became more heated until the Police arrived. After everyone had been calmed down, both drivers were counseled about their behavior and allowed to leave.
Here are some of the other cases Anacortes Police worked on this week.
Friday, Jan. 24
3:11 pm. A store on Commercial Ave called 911 to report that they had a woman detained after she was observed shoplifting a package of knee-length stockings by placing them in her jacket and then attempting to leave without paying. While the Police were en route the suspect fled from the store. Officers searched the area, but did not find her. An examination of the in-store video made it easy to positively identify the 27-year-old Anacortes woman that dropped the package of stockings as she was in the process of fleeing the store. Further investigation revealed that she also has several warrants out for her arrest. Officers are still working on locating her.
8:17 pm. An Officer observed a van fail to stop at the stop sign located at 23rd St. and Commercial Ave. She made a traffic stop and contacted the driver. A records check showed that his license was suspended, and he was required to have an ignition interlock device in order to check his sobriety prior to driving. The van the man was driving did not have an ignition interlock, so he was arrested and issued a citation for driving on a suspended license and operating a vehicle without a required ignition interlock device. He was given a copy of the citation and agreed to appear in court at an upcoming court date. He was then released after agreeing not to drive any further.
9:30 pm. Ten juveniles and at least one adult have been charged in connection with a juvenile party that was broken up by Anacortes Officers in the 1200 block of 11th Street. After receiving anonymous information about the party, investigating Officers found approximately 20 juveniles inside a residence surrounded by open alcohol containers and the strong odor of burnt marijuana. Investigation at the scene revealed that many of those present had been drinking alcohol. All of the juveniles were held until a parent could come pick them up, or they were transported to a parent prior to being released.
Saturday, Jan. 25
1:15 am. At about 1:15 AM the 911 center was notified by OnStar that one of their customers had just been involved in a collision near the 1000 block of Q Ave. An Officer was nearby. He checked the area and found that a Cadillac sedan had left the roadway and struck a planter box on the sidewalk with enough force that the airbags had deployed. The driver, a 39-year-old man from Saginaw, Michigan, was uninjured but did appear to be intoxicated. He was taken in to custody for DUI and transported to the Police station where he was processed for DUI. While speaking with the officer he admitted that he had been drinking at a downtown bar and several patrons there had advised him not to drive as he was leaving. He also acknowledged that he knew that it was unsafe for him to be on the road and stated that he was glad that no one was hurt in the accident. The heavily damaged car turned out to be a rental. It was towed from the scene.
2:34 am. At approximately 2:30 AM a Sergeant stopped a white Honda Civic near the 3000 block of R Ave. after noting that the registered owner had a confirmed warrant out for her arrest. The 19-year-old Mount Vernon woman was the driver and she was taken in to custody. There were two other people in the car and investigation revealed that both of them had warrants for their arrest as well. Officers arrested the 37-year-old Anacortes man and the 37-year-old Burlington woman that were passengers in the vehicle and all three people were transported to APD. The jail could not accept any of them due to overcrowding, so all three were given new court dates and released.
8:30 am. An Officer took a report that someone had smashed out the window of a van parked on 6th Street overnight. A leaf blower and weed wacker were stolen from inside the vehicle.
Sunday, Jan. 26
12:45 am. An Anacortes Officer was on Highway 20 assisting another Officer with a traffic stop when he observed a vehicle further up the highway swerve and leave the road and crash. He got back in his car and drove to the scene of the accident and observed three male subjects trying to quickly walk away. He summoned them back to the scene and found that they were obviously intoxicated. Each of the three denied being the driver of the wrecked truck. The Officer carefully examined the scene and the truck and was able to determine which of the three men was actually driving the vehicle. He was placed under arrest and taken to the office, where he later provided two breath samples almost twice the legal limit for intoxication. The vehicle was towed from the scene.
5:37 pm. An Officer working RADAR in the 1900 block of Q Ave stopped a vehicle after he observed it going 38 MPH in a 25 MPH zone. The driver admitted that he did not have a valid license. A records check showed that his license was suspended. He was arrested and issued a citation with a court date for the Anacortes Municipal Court. He agreed not to drive any further and was released.
Monday, Jan. 27
11:22 am. A second-hand store on Commercial Ave. called to report that someone had stolen some leather, motorcycle riding gear from in front of the store. The black leather vest, jacket and chaps all had red roses embroidered upon them and were valued at approximately $250. The store employee stated that she had hung the items on a hanger in front of the store and later in the day discovered them missing.
12:39 pm. A resident on 16th Street called the Police after he found a bag with some drug paraphernalia stuffed in to his recycling bin. It appeared that someone had been walking through the alleyway behind his house and put the items in the bin. The items had no evidentiary value, and the entire bag was destroyed.
Tuesday, Jan. 28
12:57 pm. APD received information that a 15-year-old Juvenile Runaway from Concrete was at a residence on Shannon Point Road. Investigation revealed that she also had a warrant out for her arrest for failing to appear for a court hearing. An Officer went to the home and came across a girl that matched the physical description, but gave him a different name. He questioned her further and was eventually able to determine that she was lying and she was actually the suspect that he was seeking. The girl was taken in to custody and transported to Skagit Juvenile Detention where she was booked.
6:32 pm. Officers responded to a Commercial Ave restaurant for a report of an intoxicated man who was acting in a disorderly fashion and refusing to leave. Officers located the intoxicated 28-year-old Anacortes man and issued him a trespass notice barring him from the property. He was given his copy of the trespass form and then send on his way. He was advised that he would be arrested if he returned.
9:15 pm. A resident called to report that he thought that a man was damaging a truck parked on the street near the intersection of 6th St and T Ave. Officers responded and found that the same intoxicated subject whom they had removed from the Commercial Ave restaurant in the above case was the likely suspect. Although he was not around the truck when they arrived, another Officer subsequently found the man and spoke with him. He denied any involvement, although the clothing he was wearing matched the description given in this matter. He was encouraged to head home for the night and agreed that he would walk directly to where he was staying. A close examination of the truck revealed that an air cap had been unscrewed from one tire, but nothing else was damaged or tampered with.
Wednesday, Jan. 29
3:53 pm. An employee of a downtown market called to report that he had chased a subject after seeing him load up a hand basket of items and then leave the store without paying. The witness said that the suspect had placed the hand basket of items in a car, and then fled on foot. An Officer looked in to the car and could see the basket of items, as well as several empty hand baskets from the same store. The area was checked by other Officers, but the suspect was not found. A search warrant was applied for and granted and permission was given to enter the vehicle and recover the stolen items, which were returned to the store. The suspect has been positively identified via witnesses and video and has been charged with Theft in the 3rd Degree as well as Possession of Stolen Property in the 3rd Degree.
8:08 pm. An intoxicated 28-year-old man was cited for Disorderly Conduct and Provoking Assault after he caused a scene and threw pizza at a passing vehicle in the parking lot of a Commercial Ave. market. Witnesses described him screaming and yelling at customers and store employees in addition to throwing the pizza. He was issued a citation and a trespass notice and then sent on his way.
Thursday, Jan. 30
4:53 pm. A 911 call was received reporting a possible case of Domestic Violence in progress at a residence on 34th Street. Arriving Officers spoke with a woman and found that she had been assaulted by a man who was barred from being around her by a court order. Because an assault occurred during the violation of the court order, the crime is a felony. Felony charges have been filed against the 29-year-old Burlington man that fled the scene. He also has other warrants out for his arrest and Police are actively looking for him.