A woman on 38th Street called Thursday night to report that her car had been stolen. An officer responded, and she told him that she had lent the car to a couple of friends of hers two days ago so that they could run an errand for her. They were supposed to run the errand and come right back, but now two days had gone by and she had no idea where they had gone or what had become of her car. While she was explaining all of this to the officer her phone rang; she answered it and it was her friends. They told her that they had been listening on their police scanner and they were bringing her car back to her right away. The woman elected not to file charges since her car was returned to her unharmed.
Here are some of the other cases Anacortes Police worked on this week.
Saturday, April 5
9:15 am. A resident on 20th Street reported that a shipped package had been stolen off of his porch. Research showed that Fed Ex had delivered the package on April 3rd. The package contained a roof rack / kayak carrier valued at $80.00.
2:57 pm. Officers were dispatched to a complaint involving a subject that had allegedly thrown a skateboard at a car and then fled in the area of Seafarer’s Way. An officer contacted the complainant near 18th Street and N Ave. and they were discussing the situation when the suspect, a 29-year-old Anacortes man, came walking out from between some nearby houses. He claimed that he had fled because he was scared of the complainant and stated that he had only thrown a cup of water at the passing car after it had almost run him over. As no crime could be proven, the suspect was released and walked off.
The officer quickly discovered that the man had provided a false name and date of birth. He recontacted the subject and placed him under arrest once his true name was revealed and two warrants were confirmed for his arrest. The man was searched once he was under arrest and a glass pipe for smoking methamphetamine was discovered in his pocket. He was taken to the police station and issued a misdemeanor citation for Making False Statements to a Public Officer as well as Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Due to overcrowding, the jail would not accept him, so he was issued new court dates on his warrants and released.
3:26 pm. While on routine patrol, an officer observed a Hyundai make an abrupt stop on Q Ave near 14th Street, where there is no stop sign. As he watched, the vehicle suddenly accelerated hard, breaking traction and spinning its tires for about 50 feet. He made a traffic stop on the vehicle and noted that the driver showed signs of intoxication. The driver admitted to having, “a couple” of drinks and also did poorly on field sobriety checks. He was placed under arrest for DUI and his vehicle impounded. At the station, the driver provided two breath samples measuring .248 and .253 blood alcohol content, 3 times the legal limit for intoxication. He was issued a citation for DUI and released to a sober adult.
Sunday, April 6
9:44 am. What initially came in as a theft complaint turned in to something more involved for officers who responded to an address on Anaco Beach Road on April 6th. The initial complaint came from a 24-year-old woman who reported that her husband had taken her identification and other documents and would not return them. Officers arrived and spoke with the woman, who now wanted to report that her husband had also pointed a gun at her on a recent, prior date. Officers interviewed the husband, who denied taking or hiding any documents and stated that he did not even own a gun, so his wife must be lying. He encouraged officers to check the home because the missing documents were in there somewhere. Officers then accompanied the wife as she searched the home for the documents. Along the way, they ran across the husband’s 12-gauge shotgun, which turned out to be stolen. The man was re-interviewed and subsequently booked in to the Skagit County Jail on several felony charges.
7:22 pm. An officer on patrol came across an accident that had just occurred in the intersection of 16th St and O Ave. Upon speaking with the two drivers, the officer noted that one of them appeared to be highly intoxicated. The driver failed field sobriety checks and was taken in to custody at the scene. His heavily damaged car was impounded and he was transported to the office. Investigation revealed that the man’s license was already suspended from a prior DUI arrest in 2013, and he was required to only operate vehicles equipped with an Ignition Interlock (which he did not have in his car). At the office, the suspect provided two breath samples measuring .245 and .233 BAC. He was issued a citation for DUI, Driving on a suspended license (2nd degree) and Driving without a required Ignition Interlock Device…then booked in to jail. The other driver, who was actually at fault in the accident, was issued a traffic ticket for failing to yield the right of way.
9:06 pm. After receiving a report of suspicious activity in the area of the 1200 block of 11th Street, an officer checked the area and observed a teenaged male trying to run away from him. He contacted the subject and found that he was visibly intoxicated and only 14 years of age. The juvenile was placed under arrest and transported home by the officer. His family was advised that he was being charged with underaged consumption of alcohol.
Monday, April 7
3:12 pm. Fire and police units were dispatched to an unconscious 15-year-old male at Storvik Park. His friends reported that he had been unconscious for at least five minutes at the time of the call. Paramedics were able to awaken the teen, who stated that he had passed out after smoking a synthetic marijuana, known as Spice. The juvenile was transported to the hospital for treatment.
8:16 pm. An officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 1400 block of O Ave after noting that the registration tabs on the vehicle had expired in March of 2013. The driver of the vehicle was found to have a suspended driver’s license and no proof of insurance. He was placed under arrest and issued a citation for a future court date. He left the traffic stop on foot and the car was left legally parked.
11:46 pm. Just before midnight and officer ran across a group of people near the intersection of 3rd Street and N Ave. She recognized a woman present as a 21-year-old Oak Harbor woman with a warrant out for her arrest. The warrant was confirmed and the officer placed the woman under arrest. She was handcuffed and searched. During the search the officer found a baggy in the woman’s pocket with two used and bloody syringes as well as residue that indicated that the woman had been using heroin. She was taken to the office and issued a new court date on her warrant, (due to jail overcrowding) and also given a citation for the new charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Tuesday, April 8
12:45 pm. Several 911 calls were received when a truck towing a van broke down on Highway 20, blocking the turn lane at Christianson Road. The responding officers assisted with getting a tow to the scene to move the vehicles off the roadway. Then, they discovered that both people present had warrants for their arrest for failing to appear in court. Further, neither one of them had a valid driver’s license. Both people were placed under arrest. Due to overcrowding, the jail would not accept them. So, they were issued new court dates and released with instructions not to drive until they had cleared up their license issues.
3:11 pm. A 39-year-old Anacortes woman came to the Police Department and reported that her 36-year-old husband had assaulted her and then taken her phone, preventing her from calling 911. The woman had visible injuries and stated that her husband was intoxicated and had become violent. Officers responded to the couple’s residence on 36th Street and took the man in to custody. He was booked in to the county jail on charges of domestic assault.
Wednesday, April 9
8:28 am. The 36-year-old Anacortes man arrested on 36th Street in an earlier case spent the night in the county jail. The next morning, he was issued a no-contact order by a judge and then released. Rather than obeying the order, he returned to the residence on 36th Street. Officers responded to the address and once again took him in to custody. He was returned to the jail and re-booked. He was also charged with the crime of Violation of a Domestic Violence Court Order.
9:00 am. The Anacortes Middle School requested an officer respond to the school regarding a drug problem. Investigation revealed that one student was in possession of a thermos with some alcohol and a prescription pill. The pill had been given to him by another student at the school. Both students are facing criminal charges as well as sanctions by the school.
4:23 pm. A Deer Harbor resident who keeps his boat stored in Anacortes was disappointed when he prepared to put his boat in the water for the season. The man told officers that he had been at the boat storage yard on 30th Street the day before and had placed some items on the boat. Then, when he and his wife returned the next day, they discovered that the mainsail for the boat, a 9.9 Johnson outboard motor, some brass winch handles and a number of other items had been stolen from the vessel. Total loss from theft was more than $7,500.
Thursday, April 10
3:19 pm. A Lynnwood woman called 911 after her car was struck by a golf ball on Highway 20 as she was driving past the golf course. She wanted to know if a crime had been committed. She was advised that any damage done to her car was a civil matter, as there was likely no intent to hit her car.
3:36 pm. A 46-year-old Anacortes man was taken in to custody for a felony assault in violation of the Domestic Violence Protection Act after a 23-year-old woman that had been living with him reported having been choked and beaten. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and evidence was gathered at the scene. The suspect, a convicted felon that was recently released from prison, is also on Federal Probation. He was booked in to the Skagit County Jail.
Friday, April 11
4:52 pm. Officers were asked to respond to Mt. Erie reference a couple of people smoking marijuana in a car. An officer located the suspect’s vehicle as it was driving down from the top of Mt. Erie and made a traffic stop on the vehicle after noting several driving violations. The driver, an 18-year-old Mt. Vernon man, denied smoking anything, but confirmed that his 17-year-old girlfriend had been smoking some marijuana earlier. Further investigation revealed that there was a pill bottle with marijuana buds in the glove compartment of the vehicle. A records check showed that the driver did not have a valid license. He received a citation from driving without a valid license. Both of them received citations for Possession of Marijuana.