While a police officer was investigating a case on April 1, he was contacted by a 50-year-old Anacortes man who reported suspicious activity in the area. He said he put $60 worth of gas in his car on March 28 and his vehicle indicated an empty gas tank the next day. He filled it again, but when he returned to his vehicle the next time, it was again empty. He believed someone had siphoned his gas on the separate occasions. There are currently no suspects.
Anacortes Police also investigated these other cases.
Friday, April 1, 2022
An officer was dispatched to a disorderly call in the 2400 block of T Avenue. A 64-year-old Anacortes man reported that about $150 worth of clothing had been stolen off his porch and that he had confronted the subject and a verbal argument had occurred. The man requested extra APD patrols at night.
An officer was dispatched to a malicious mischief call in the 1100 block of 27th Court. A 34-year-old Anacortes woman advised that her car had been broken into. The officer observed a broken driver’s-side window, and the woman said she believed someone had smashed it out in the previous two days. She said there was nothing missing from inside the car.
Officers were dispatched to an alarm call at a restaurant in the 2500 block of Commercial Avenue. An officer checked the building and found the drive-through window was cracked open. Surveillance footage showed a subject passing the window and extending his arm, apparently trying to slide the window open.
Saturday, April 2, 2022
Kids were seen climbing on the roof of Mount Erie Elementary School. An officer responded and told them not to do so.
The reporting party advised that 10 to 15 juveniles were shooting airsoft guns in the parking lot of a local grocery store. An officer responded and contacted a large group of kids who were shooting Orbeez guns, which shoot water beads. The group was counseled on their choice of location for this activity. No damage was reported.
Sunday, April 3, 2022
An officer was dispatched to a vehicle prowl in the 9000 block of March’s Point Road. A 42-year-old Oak Harbor woman advised that she had video of a person rummaging through items on her trailer. The officer responded and spoke to the woman, who advised that a male subject had accessed a toolbox but had not taken anything. The officer distributed suspect and vehicle photographs related to the prowl.
Dispatch advised that a 41-year-old Anacortes man was reporting that he and his mother’s cars were prowled sometime overnight. An officer responded, and the man told him that his mother had noticed that papers were out on the seat, and it looked like someone had gone through the car. She didn’t notice anything taken. The reporting party said it looked like his vehicle had been gone through and noticed several items taken. Both of the cars were unlocked, and the man said he would check with neighbors to see about footage.
Monday, April 4, 2022
An officer contacted a man who reported a theft in the 12600 block of Thompson Road. The 59-year-old La Conner man reported that his van had been broken into while it was parked there sometime in the previous two days. The door lock was punched in, the dash was destroyed, and the stereo, speakers and catalytic converter were all stolen. The fuel line was also cut, for a total of about $1,300 in stolen property and $850 in damage to the vehicle.
The reporting party called regarding a suspicious truck in a parking lot in the 1500 block of Commercial Avenue. An officer contacted the driver, who indicated that he was a DoorDash driver waiting for a pickup order to come in.
A 59-year-old Anacortes man reported that his wicker chair had been stolen from his porch in the 900 block of Fourth Street. He then stated that it had not been stolen and that a handyman had taken it and that they had already worked things out. He asked for extra patrols in the area at night.
An officer responded to a reported theft at an Anacortes grocery store. Dispatch advised that a 23-year-old Anacortes man and a 23-year-old Anacortes woman had allegedly stolen a bottle of alcohol and that the store wanted them banned and charged if the theft could be proven. The manager stated that the woman could be seen on video surveillance footage taking the bottle from the shelf and concealing it. Officers later located them, and the woman denied taking the alcohol. The woman claimed she had put it back on a different shelf in the store and had not taken it. Both were banned from the store.
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
An officer was dispatched to a theft in progress at a business in the 1700 block of Q Avenue. The manager advised that a woman was inside the store and had been observed on video surveillance concealing items on her person and was still in the store. The officer responded and contacted the store staff, who pointed out the 38-year-old Anacortes woman. She denied taking anything but then acted like she remembered and pulled a hex tool out of her back pocket. She said she placed it there because her hands were full and that she was planning to pay for it. The officer handed the item to staff, who advised that she had taken more items, which the woman denied. Dispatch advised that she had a confirmed warrant out of Anacortes Municipal Court for an unattended hit and run. The officer placed her under arrest and searched her purse incident to arrest, finding more items allegedly taken from the store. She admitted to taking one of the items but not the others. The woman was cited for third-degree theft and released with a new court date for the warrant.
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
An officer responded to a store in the 1700 block of Commercial Avenue. The manager reported that a man was causing a disturbance by flipping off customers. The manager advised that he had caused issues before by yelling at customers and staff and requested that he be removed and banned from the store. The officer arrived, found the man sitting inside and prepared a trespass notice. The man saw the officer, exited the store, and walked away quickly. The manager signed the trespass notice. Another officer helped locate the man, who stated that he was being harassed and that customers were trying to intimidate him. He refused to sign the trespass notice and eventually took his copy.
An officer observed a man slumped over the steering wheel in a vehicle in the 3200 block of T Avenue. The officer contacted dispatch and advised of a welfare check, and another officer arrived to assist. The vehicle was occupied by three people, all of whom appeared to be asleep. The 38-year-old Eastsound man in the driver’s seat provided his driver’s license, and dispatch advised that he had an outstanding Skagit County District Court warrant for first-degree criminal trespass. Officers placed him under arrest, and he advised that he had a container with pills and heroin in his pocket, which were recovered. The responding officer advised the man of his court date and signed the book-and-release form.
Thursday, April 7, 2022
At about 11:58 p.m., an officer paced a motorcycle going at about 98 miles per hour in a 55 miles-per-hour zone. The motorcycle slowed down, and when the officer activated his siren, the rider looked back and accelerated rapidly eastbound on highway 20. The officer observed the motorcycle continue over the Twin Bridges and lost sight of it as it approached La Conner-Whitney Road, passing at least two vehicles at high speed in the process. The investigation continues.