A 17-year-old Anacortes girl was cited for reckless driving after an officer stopped her for speeding and driving through a stop sign. What the girl apparently did before that got another driver angry enough to call police.
The incidents happened just before midnight on Sunday, Aug. 25, in the area of 12th Street and N Avenue. After stopping the girl, who had five teenage passengers, officers received a call noting a man had nearly been rear-ended by the same vehicle and someone then flipped him off. The other driver contacted officers and said the vehicle pulled up very close behind him, flashed its lights and then moved into the wrong lane of travel to pass his vehicle. The girl told officers she was trying to get the other driver to speed up.
Here are some other cases Anacortes Police reported this week.
Thursday, August 22, 2019
A 77-year-old Anacortes woman was reportedly attempting to park in front of the Department of Licensing in the 900 block of 10th Street around 2 p.m. and hit the gas instead of the brake. The vehicle lurched over the curb and into the building. Damage was done to the façade and the front of the vehicle.
Friday, August 23, 2019
A 37-year-old Anacortes man was cited for assault 4th after reportedly spitting on a woman and her dog unprovoked around 6:30 a.m. near Seafarers’ Memorial Park. The woman said the man aggressively opened his door and spit on them. The man then stood staring at her, halfway out of his vehicle, giving her the impression he was ready to fight. She walked away and took a picture of his car. The man refused to talk to an officer.
A resident reported graffiti on a wall on a metal building in the 500 block of 30th Street. Estimated cost to remove is $100. Officers noted the graffiti looked similar to other reported incidents, including at the Depot and Anacortes Cinema. Another similar incident was reported on Aug. 29 at the public restrooms at 22nd Street and R Avenue.
An 18-year-old Burlington man faces charges of robbery, obstruction and theft 3rd after reportedly assaulting and stealing from a 17-year-old Anacortes man while buying marijuana at a park around 3 p.m. Officers were called about a fight and while attempting to locate those involved, the 18-year-old was contacted by police and ran. Officers gave chase and took him into custody. Officers also were able to identify the victim. Both parties told essentially the same story: the 18-year-old bought marijuana from the younger man and punched him in the face using brass knuckles and stole a backpack and skateboard. The 17-year-old and a friend followed and the fight continued in a parking lot. An adult came out of a nearby business and told them to break it up or he was calling the police. The parties separated.
Saturday, August 24, 2019
A 29-year-old Anacortes man was cited for trespassing after sleeping in his vehicle at a park where he had previously been banned by police. Officers were called around 1:25 a.m. and woke up the man, who was reportedly uncooperative and argumentative. Officers noted he appeared to be intoxicated. He was booked into jail.
Police responded to the report of an unknown man on the caller’s porch who would not leave around 4:20 a.m. Officers contacted a 42-year-old Anacortes man who was highly intoxicated and did not know where he lived. Officers found out his address and was returned home and declining medical attention.
A 28-year-old Oak Harbor man was cited for failure to stop at an intersection after hitting a stopped vehicle head-on around 11:15 a.m. The man was headed eastbound on Highway 20 approaching Reservation Road when the light turned yellow. He didn’t believe he had enough time to stop, however the vehicle in front of him was slowing, so he abruptly steered right to avoid a collision. He overcorrected to the left and lost control of his vehicle, which proceeded through the intersection and hit a vehicle in the left turn lane facing westbound head-on. There were no reported injuries.
A caller reported two juveniles smoking cigarettes in an empty lot. Officers contacted two teens boys, one of whom gave a false birthdate. The 13-year-old had four cigarettes in his possession, which were confiscated and disposed of.
A family reported a vehicle prowl to a boat about a week ago in which a window was smashed and a second vehicle prowl overnight in which a purse was stolen from a car inadvertently left unlocked.
A 54-year-old Anacortes man was arrested on a charge of driving with a suspended license after being stopped for cutting a vehicle off and driving with the driver’s door open around 5:20 p.m. in the 500 block of Fourth Street. The driver claimed he didn’t see the other vehicle when pulling out. He said his vehicle wasn’t on when he moved it and it was in neutral. An officer talked to the man about drug use and received consent to search his vehicle. They did not locate anything illegal. He was cited and released.
A 40-year-old Conway woman was arrested on five warrants after officers were called to a motel about a man reportedly using vulgar language and disturbing the peace around 7 p.m. The man reportedly admitted calling his neighbor a name during an argument. Officers noted he was mildly upset but reasonable. Officers contacted the neighbor, the 40-year-old woman, and she gave a similar story. Officers learned the woman had warrants and arrested her. She was booking in the Skagit jail.
Sunday, August 25, 2019
A hospital security guard reported a man playing music and dancing in a nearby parking lot just before 4 a.m. Officers contacted a 36-year-old Anacortes man, who said he just ended a long-term relationship and he was trying to relieve the stress of the breakup. Officers noted he had not been drinking and was just sad.
Officers received a noise complaint about demonstrators at 12th Street and Commercial Avenue around 12:15 p.m. An officer drove through the area and noted no problems.
A caller reported a brush fire east of Cascade Court around 8:15 p.m. It was determined it was an illegal burn in a backyard and was handled by the Anacortes Fire Department.
Monday, August 26, 2019
A 23-year-old Anacortes man was cited for failing to transfer his vehicle title in 45 days after an officer stopped his vehicle for expired tabs around 5:30 a.m. The driver said he had just gotten a steady job and was meaning to transfer the title to his name.
Officers were called to a fight in progress near 32nd Street and R Avenue just before 10 a.m. The caller reported seeing a man hit a woman and then drag her toward a nearby bus stop. Officers contacted two people at the bus stop who matched the description. They were both calm and did not appear upset with each other, officers noted. The woman told officers she twisted her ankle while walking and her boyfriend helped her to the bus stop to sit down. The man provided the same story.
Someone spray painted the storage building near the baseball field at Storvik Park. The graffiti was similar to that seen at multiple other locations around town. Estimated damage is $100.
An 18-year-old Anacortes woman sought assistance after being threatened by her now ex-boyfriend while the pair were on vacation. The 23-year-old Anacortes man allegedly threatened to assault her after she ended the relationship. She was advised of various options.
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Three welders worth more than $10,000 were reported stolen from a March Point business sometime in the previous few days. They were recovered later that day in another county. The suspects in possession of the welders reportedly admitted to the theft.
Officers assisted at a vehicle fire around 2 p.m. in the 2500 block of D Avenue. The vehicle owner reported having a transmission fluid leak, which he believed caused the fire.
A 55-year-old Anacortes man faces drug charges after officers were called to a suspicious complaint around 7 p.m. on Fidalgo Bay Road. A caller reported someone sitting in their car for several hours in an area officers note is known for drug activity. Officers contacted the man and saw drug paraphernalia in his lap and noted he exhibited signs of having ingested drugs. A drug K9 was called and alerted to drugs in the vehicle, which was towed. Charges are pending.
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
The property of four teenage girls was reported stolen while they were at swim practice at Fidalgo Pool. The items – shoes, a silver ring and about $35 cash – were stolen from the locker room.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
A hiker returned to his vehicle at the Mount Erie parking lot to discover the passenger side window had been broken out. He was unable to locate anything that was missing. Estimated damage is $150. A second vehicle was found with its driver’s side window smashed. Again, nothing appeared to be stolen. Estimated damage is $250.
A 38-year-old transient man faces charges after reportedly leaving a grocery store with a cart full of about $560 worth of merchandise – mostly alcohol – around 9 p.m. The items were returned to the store. Officers found a wallet on the man that belonged to someone else. Charges are pending.
A 36-year-old Mount Vernon woman was cited via summons for theft after reportedly leaving a grocery store without paying for about $400 worth of items. An employee noticed the woman had left the self-checkout area without paying. She was identified through a receipt and surveillance footage.
A resident asked officers to check on a person walking on the shoulder of Highway 20 who was close to the white line around 10:20 p.m. Officers contacted a 38-year-old man who said he was walking out of town and he did not need assistance.
A 65-year-old La Conner man was arrested on a charge of DUI after officers were called about a vehicle stuck in the median at Highway 20 just east of Reservation Road around 11:15 p.m. When officers arrived a good Samaritan had pulled the man’s sedan out of the ditch. Officers noted the driver appeared to have been drinking. He was arrested and provided breath samples that were over the legal limit. He was cited and released.
Friday, August 30, 2019
Officers picked up two fake-looking $100 bills after a resident reported finding them in the 2700 block of Commercial Avenue during a morning run. They were booked into evidence.
Note: Anacortes Police Department policy is to not include names or addresses of businesses or individuals that call 911 for police assistance, though this information is a matter of public record.