An 82-year-old resident of Rosario Way called to report that he was the victim of identity theft. He told the officer that he had been contacted by the Archdiocese of his church advising that their computers had been hacked and his Social Security Number may have been compromised. He called the Social Security Administration and learned that someone had already filed a false tax return using his SSN. The matter had been reported to the IRS.
Here are some of the other cases Anacortes Police worked on this week.
Saturday, March 15
1:20 am. Officers were called to a downtown bar where a large group of people was reported to be involved in a fight on the sidewalk out front. Upon arrival, officers learned that the fight had actually been some pushing and shoving between only a couple of people, one of whom had fled after throwing a chair at the other. There were no injures and none of the people present wanted to pursue any charges. The crowd was dispersed and the officers moved on to their next call.
2:40 am. A woman called 911 to report that there was a light on at a neighboring home and she knew there should not be, since the residents there had just moved away. Officers checked the home and found that there was a cleaning service there doing some late-night cleaning.
8:15 am. A 911 call was received regarding a possibly intoxicated man that was talking to himself and swearing loudly near the playground by the library. Officers contacted the 25-year-old man and found that he was not intoxicated, but that he was experiencing some emotional and mental health issues. He declined any type of help or a courtesy ride and agreed to keep his voice down and watch his language in the future.
Sunday, March 16
10:30 am. A pickup truck worth more than $70,000 was stolen from one of the car dealerships on hwy 20 overnight. The reporting business found someone had broken out a window on a Jeep vehicle parked on their lot. Upon closer inspection they realized that a 2014 Pickup truck was missing, but there was broken glass where it had been parked. The pickup truck was found in the Mt. Vernon area the same day. Investigation is still ongoing in this matter, including examination of the businesses video. If you have any suspect information regarding this case, please call the anonymous Anacortes PD TipLine at 360-299-1985. All calls are confidential.
7:14 pm. The manager of a Commercial Ave market called to report that a shoplifter had just been confronted and had run from the store. Investigating officers learned that the store employee had confronted the woman shoplifter after noticing that she was trying to conceal a beer in her sweatshirt. The employee managed to get the beer back, but the shoplifter fled across Commercial Ave. Officers reviewed the store’s video system and were able to recognize the suspect. They went to her home and spoke with her and the 36-year-old Anacortes resident admitted to the theft. She was issued a citation for Theft in the Third Degree and given a trespass warning preventing her from returning to the store.
9:07 pm. While checking the registration of a vehicle on Highway 20 an officer noticed that the registration had expired in 2013, but there was a 2014 registration tab on the vehicle’s license plate. He made a traffic stop and contacted the driver and his girlfriend, both of whom claimed to have no idea how the registration tab for the wrong vehicle could have ended up on their license plate. Further checking revealed that the 28-year-old Mt. Vernon man who was driving the vehicle had a suspended license and a warrant out for his arrest from a prior suspended driving charge. The Anacortes officer took him in to custody and transported him to the office. He was issued a new citation for driving on a suspended license as well as a ticket for failing to renew his vehicle registration and failing to show the required proof of insurance. Due to jail overcrowding he could not be booked in, so he was given a new court date on his warrant and released.
Monday, March 17
8:00 am. A resident on K Ave called to report that his unlocked vehicle had been broken in to overnight. Inspection of the vehicle revealed the suspect had ransacked the inside, and had stolen a flip-phone style cell phone.
6:07 pm. A call was received that an off-road four-wheeler was being driven on the road in the 4000 block of M Ave. An officer responded to the area and located the vehicle as its driver was pulling in to a driveway on that street. The officer spoke with the driver, reminding him that off-road vehicles were not allowed on city street. The man agreed to stop riding the vehicle on the roadway.
Tuesday, March 18
8:00 am. Several people called about a “gushing” pressurized tank near the intersection of Highway 20 and Reservation Road. Police and Fire units responded and found that the tank is full of liquid nitrogen and naturally vents occasionally. There is no danger to the public.
12:29 pm. An in-progress burglary was interrupted when the friend of a resident who lives on 29th Street went to her house just after noon. He observed a man carrying a speaker out of the residence. Upon being interrupted, the two suspects ran to the east into a nearby apartment complex after dropping the speaker. The area was checked by officers, but the suspects were not located. Investigation showed that the back door to the residence had been kicked in.
Wednesday, March 19
8:10 am. City Parks staff called to advise that they had located an illegal campsite along a trail near Cranberry Lake. It appeared to have been regularly occupied for some time. Camping in the forest lands is not allowed, so the campsite was dismantled and the property hauled away by the Parks Dept,
4:37 pm. An officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle that was traveling at 43 MPH in the 25 MPH zone on Anaco Beach Road. Upon checking the records of the 25-year-old Anacortes woman who was driving, he discovered that her license was suspended for unpaid tickets. The driver was placed under arrest and issued a citation for driving on a suspended license. She was also issued a speeding ticket. She called a friend to come take over the driving of her vehicle.
9:01 pm. An Anacortes resident driving on Commercial Ave called the police after a juvenile threw a rock at her car. She reported that her son had seen the juvenile throw the rock as she was passing the bowling alley in the 2800 block of Commercial Ave. Luckily, no damage was done to her vehicle. Officers checked the area, but did not locate the rock thrower.