Early Friday morning, May 16, employees of a downtown market called the police after two women became unruly in the store. Evidently, the two women wanted to purchase alcohol, but were refused because it was after two AM. (No liquor sales are allowed after 2 AM according to state law). Officers explained to the two visibly upset women that the store was merely complying with state law. They were then asked to leave the store. It was evident that they had already been drinking, so an officer helped them arrange for a taxi.
Here are some of the other cases Anacortes Police worked on this week.
Friday, May 16
8:57 am. In police work, there are frequently two sides to every story. Just before 9:00 AM a woman called to report that she had been struck by a car following an argument with another woman. She stated that she thought that the driver should be arrested. The driver told police that the other woman had come across the street and confronted her about an issue and would not leave her alone. She said that she had to leave for work, so she got in her car, but the other woman stood in front of her vehicle and refused to move. She acknowledged that she put her car in gear and moved forward, but said that she did not run the woman over. After collecting information from both women, and from a witness, the officer referred the matter to the city prosecutor for a charging decision. His opinion was that both women were mutually combative, and that no charges would be filed.
5:12 pm. An officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 1000 block of 14th Street after witnessing it run a red light and make a lane change violation. A records check showed that the driver’s license was suspended due to an unpaid ticket. The driver stated that he recalled his parents paying his fines through the court, so he thought that his license was reinstated. He acknowledged that he had not gone to the Dept. of Licensing to renew his license. He was issued a citation for driving on a suspended license and then a licensed driver took over the driver’s seat.
Saturday, May 17
5:00 pm. A 41-year-old Anacortes woman was arrested in the 1200 block of 11th Street for a warrant. The warrant was issued by the court when she failed to appear on a charge of Furnishing Alcohol to Minors. She was transported to the police station, but could not be booked due to overcrowding. She was issued a new court date and she promised to appear. She was then released.
Sunday, May 18
After observing a driver that was not wearing her seatbelt, an officer made a traffic stop on State Route 20. Not only was she not wearing her belt, a records check revealed that her license was suspended due to unpaid tickets…and she admitted that she had no insurance on the vehicle. The driver was arrested and issued a citation for driving on a suspended license. She was also given a ticket for driving without a seat belt and a verbal warning for not having insurance. She promised to appear in court on the suspended license charge and was released. She called a licensed driver to take over behind the wheel.
9:29 pm. Officers responded to a local marina after a fight was reported aboard a fishing boat moored there. Investigation revealed that one of the boat’s crew members, a 37-year-old Vancouver, Wash. man, had assaulted the Captain of the boat. Both men were injured during the fight. The Captain did not want to pursue charges against his crew member, but he did want him removed from the boat. The owners of the Marina were contacted and asked that the crew member be removed from their property.
Monday, May 19
3:38 pm. The Dept of Social and Health Services referred a case to the police department in which it is alleged that a daughter has stolen money from her father’s Washington State Benefits bank card. The matter is currently being investigated.
4:24 pm. A woman called to report that she had been receiving some troubling comments on her online blog. After some discussion it was apparent that the comments did not meet the legal criteria for either harassment or the crime of cyber bullying. She was referred to her Internet provider for further options.
9:03 pm. Officers were called to an address on Oakes Avenue after neighbors spotted a suspicious vehicle there. They also reported that the house was vacant, so they did not think anyone was supposed to be at the premises. Officers arrived and found that a work crew had been hired by the property owner to clean up the foreclosed property. While they were investigating, they also discovered a second vehicle on the back of the property with two people living inside it. They claimed that the former owner of the property had given them permission to camp there. After some discussion, the two people agreed to leave the next morning and not return without something in writing from the owner.
Tuesday, May 20
12:20 pm. A citizen that lives in the area of 32nd Street and D Ave spoke with the Animal Control Officer in an effort to figure out what could be done about a screeching Parrot that lives in the neighborhood. He reported that the bird squawks loudly throughout the day. The Animal Control Officer responded to the area, but the bird was silent while she was in the neighborhood. The complainant was asked to call the next time the problem was occurring.
Wednesday, May 21
8:15 am. A resident called the police to relate a troubling occurrence on the Tommy Thompson Trail. She said that she and a friend had been walking on the trail when a bicyclist came up behind them. Instead of simply passing them or asking them to step aside, the man yelled at them to move and then called them “freaking idiots” as he went past. She described the cyclist as “very rude” and said that he has done this sort of thing before. Based upon the description given, the officer recognized the suspect as someone who has been spoken to about this type of behavior in the past. He contacted the 63-year-old man and related the complaint and asked him once again to behave respectfully toward others on the trail.
5:15 pm. A customer at a local boat storage yard called 911 after finding that he was accidentally locked inside when the business closed. Officers were able to track down and phone an employee of the business, who came down and re-opened the gate.
11:35 pm. Officers responded quickly when a downtown market claimed that a possible shoplifter had just left in a vehicle. They spotted the described suspect vehicle and made a traffic stop. Investigation revealed that one of the passengers in the vehicle had been acting suspiciously in the store, but there was not enough evidence to prove whether or not any actual shoplifting had taken place. After being identified he was allowed to get back in the vehicle. During the course of the investigation the driver of the vehicle had also been identified and it was discovered that his license was suspended due to unpaid tickets. He was arrested and issued a citation for driving on a suspended license. A licensed driver took over behind the wheel.
Thursday, May 22
3:40 pm. An off-duty Anacortes officer called in to report seeing one adult and several juveniles smoking marijuana near the skate park. On-duty officers responded and contacted the group in some bushes just off of the Tommy Thompson Trail. An 18-year-old Anacortes man and a 14-year-old Anacortes girl were charged with Possession of Marijuana. The other members of the group, two 16-year-olds and one 13-year-old, were all handed over to family members who were advised of the circumstances.
4:08 pm. A resident reported that his daughter’s bike had been stolen from an address on 24th Street sometime in the past month. Officers checked the bikes that had been recovered or turned in to APD in that time and did not find any matches. The grey, Specialized brand bike with black lettering has not been recovered.
7:48 pm. A dispute between a landlord and tenant became physical when the tenant returned a borrowed sander. Officers were called by the tenant, who claimed that she had gone to her landlord’s home to return his sander and an argument had ensued. She claimed that during the argument he grabbed her and slapped her. The landlord denied hitting the tenant, but did admit to grabbing her by the shoulders and turning her away from him when she would not leave his property. The matter has been referred to the city prosecutor for a charging decision.