An Anacortes detective in an unmarked car Friday afternoon was driving west on 12th Street when he was cut off by a vehicle pulling on to 12th Street from a side street. The detective had to slam on the brakes in order to avoid a collision. He activated his emergency lights and pulled over the silver Ford Focus that had cut him off. The 38-year-old Anacortes man driving the Focus apologized for pulling out and almost causing an accident. He also stated that he was rushing to get down to the Department of Licensing because he had just learned that his driver’s license was suspended. The Detective double-checked and confirmed that the man’s license had recently been suspended for an insurance issue stemming from a recent accident. The detective issued the man a citation for driving on a suspended license, and warned him that driving to the Department of Licensing to discuss his suspended license status was illegal, and a bad plan.
Here are some of the other cases Anacortes Police worked on this week.
Sunday, September 14
1:01 pm. The owner of a downtown business called to report a problem with a woman who had been removed from her business about a year ago. She told officers that the same woman had walked by her business, seen her, and then made an obscene gesture towards her and one of her customers. The business owner stated that she would like the woman spoken with about her behavior and also issued a trespass notice to keep her from coming to her store. APD officers found the 39-year-old suspect walking in the downtown area. She admitted that she had made the rude gesture, but claimed that she had meant it for a friend of hers that she claimed was nearby. Officers spoke with her about her behavior, and also issued her a trespass notice barring her from the business in question. No charges were filed and the woman was allowed to go on her way.
3:22 pm. As an Anacortes Officer was walking in to a local store she recognized the woman driving a Honda Accord that was in the parking lot of the business. A records check confirmed the officer’s suspicions that the driver of the vehicle had a suspended driver’s license and should not have been driving. The officer flagged over the vehicle and contacted the driver, who admitted that she was aware that her license is suspended. She was placed under arrest and issued a citation for driving on a suspended license. The driver and her boyfriend then locked up the car and left the area on foot.
10:24 pm. Officers were dispatched to a utility problem near 29th Street and B Ave after people noticed a pipe that was gushing water and beginning to flood yards in the area. The City Water Department was contacted and traced the problem down and managed to get the water flow stopped.
Monday, September 15
8:06 am. Just after 8:00 AM an Anacortes resident called 911 to report that his 56-year-old son had just left Anacortes enroute to shoot a family member in Whatcom County. The man stated that his son had made credible threats to drive to the Lynden / Ferndale area and kill his younger brother. Anacortes PD notified Whatcom County authorities and the potential victim. Investigation revealed that this was a continuation of an incident that had initially been reported to the Seattle Police Department a few days earlier. Seattle PD had booked the suspect into the King County Jail, but he had bailed out and was now continuing his threats. The suspect does not live in Anacortes; he had only been here visiting. Later in the day he was located by Seattle PD in their jurisdiction. Based upon the new information from Anacortes officers he was re-booked into the King County Jail.
3:03 pm. APD officers were asked to contact a group of people staying in an apartment on 24th Street. It was apparent that several people who were not listed on the lease had been staying at the apartment and it was requested that officers contact them and ask them to move along. Upon contacting the group, officers were able to identify a 51-year-old Anacortes man that had a $5,000 bail warrant for a prior Possession of a Dangerous Weapon charge, which he failed to appear in court on. The man was taken in to custody and transported to the county jail. The other non-tenants of the apartment agreed to move on and find somewhere else to stay.
5:07 pm. At the conclusion of a recent Superior Court case, a resident of the 1400 blk of 17th Street was found guilty of Burglary. A judge agreed to release him as long as he appeared back before the court for a sentencing hearing at a particular date and time, to which the defendant agreed. At the appointed time, however, the defendant was nowhere to be seen. The judge issued a felony warrant for his arrest. On Sept 15th Anacortes officers went to the defendant’s mother’s residence (which is where he normally resides) and took the 42-year-old in to custody. He was booked in to the county jail, and then taken before the court. An additional 60 days was added to his one year burglary sentence for his failure to appear as he had promised. He remains in jail awaiting transfer to the state Department of Corrections.
Tuesday, September 16
1:51 am. An Anacortes Sergeant ran a records check on a vehicle in front of him on Highway 20 and found that the registered owner had a suspended driver’s license. He made a traffic stop on the vehicle and spoke with the vehicle’s owner, who acknowledged that he knew that he should not have been driving. He told the Sergeant that he had recently received a ticket for driving without insurance, which he had not paid, so his license was now suspended. He further acknowledged the vehicle still did not have insurance coverage. The 26-year-old Mount Vernon man was issued a citation for driving on a suspended license and a traffic ticket for operating a vehicle without liability insurance. He called a friend with a valid license to come take over behind the wheel.
11:28 pm. An alert Anacortes officer recognized a convicted felon that he had dealt with on a number of prior occasions standing near a restaurant on Commercial Ave. A records check revealed that the man had a felony warrant out for his arrest from the State Department of Corrections. The officer contacted the 36-year-old Anacortes man and took him in to custody. He was transported to the Skagit County Jail and booked, awaiting contact from Department of Correction’s personnel.
Wednesday, September 17
On September 17th several reports were taken of vehicle prowls and thefts in the area of the 800 blk of 24th Street. All of the cars that were entered had been left unlocked by their owners. The suspect(s) took change and other small items.
2:05 pm. An employee of a local assisted living center called to report that one of their employees had recently been seen using what might have been an inappropriate amount or type of force to move an elderly patient. The matter was already a subject of an internal investigation by the employer. The APD officer has requested the internal reports and other documents in order to assess whether a charge of Custodial Assault might be applicable. The employee in question is no longer working at the facility.
Thursday, September 18
10:43 am. Anacortes Officers were advised that a 27-year-old Anacortes woman had been assaulted by her 41-year-old boyfriend. During the course of the assault the suspect allegedly grabbed the victim by the next and pushed her up against a wall. Officers located the suspect, who was staying in a motel on Commercial Ave. He was taken in to custody and booked in to the county jail for Assault in the 4th Degree in violation of the Domestic Violence Protection Act.
4:00 pm. A Burlington police officer contacted Anacortes PD and asked for some assistance locating the registered owner of a car registered in Anacortes. Burlington PD had located the car under suspicious circumstances and suspected that it might be stolen. Anacortes officers tracked down the Anacortes resident and put him in touch with Burlington PD. Investigation revealed that man had left his car in Mount Vernon and it had in fact been stolen and taken to Burlington. The matter is being investigated by the Mount Vernon Police Department.
Friday, September 19
10:43 am. APD received information that the same 41-year-old man who had been arrested the day before for Domestic Violence Assault had returned to the motel room that he had been sharing with his girlfriend on Commercial Ave. despite a court order directing him not to be anywhere near there. Officers arrived and observed the man there. He was taken in to custody for violating the court order. During a search incident to his arrest the man was found to be carrying a glass pipe with white residue, consistent with methamphetamine use. He was booked back in to the county jail, this time with charges of Violation of a Court Order as well as Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.