Police Blotter, June 28 - July 3, 2013

Anacortes Police received 22 complaints of fireworks violations in the first 5 days of July. That is fewer than in previous years. However, officers still located several subjects who claimed they were unaware of the citywide ban.

Two contacts even resulted in felony arrests: 

Tuesday, July 2. 11:35 pm.  An officer on routine patrol spotted a man in the 1000 block of 4th St. setting off fireworks in violation of the City ordinances prohibiting them. The officer contacted the man who turned out to have a felony warrant for his arrest for possession of narcotics.  The officer warned him about the fireworks but arrested him on the warrant and booked him in jail. 

Thursday, July 4. 10:28 pm.  A 53-year-old Mount Vernon man was arrested for a felony probation violation after an officer spotted him lighting off fireworks in the 3600 block of “N” Ave. The man had a “seal bomb” which is equivalent to a quarter stick of dynamite on his person at the time of his arrest. The officer arrested him for possession of an illegal explosive and a felony drug warrant. 

Other cases: 

Friday, June 28

8:07 am.  A resident in the 500 block of 35th St. reported a green-and-white Specialized mountain bike was stolen from the bed of a pick up truck parked outside their home overnight. The bike is valued at $500.  

12:46 pm.  A red lawn mower and hand truck were taken from underneath an external stairway at a business in the 600 block of 9th St. 

3:00 pm.  A vehicle parked in the 400 block of “O” Ave. overnight was discovered prowled. Nothing was missing from the vehicle but the locking mechanism was damaged as it was forced open by would be thieves. 

5:00 pm.  A 24-year-old woman was cited and released for Assault 4th degree after she punched a 31-year-old woman repeatedly. The two were suppose to be transferring custody of a small child but the 24-year-old would not relinquish the child and an argument ensued resulting in the assault.  

Saturday, June 29

6:20 pm.  A business in the 1100 block of Commercial Ave. reported that a customer had entered the employee-only section of the store and stolen a bicycle. Officers are obtaining surveillance footage in an attempt to identify the thief. 

Sunday, June 30

3:43 pm.  A young couple out enjoying the Thompson Trail reported that their vehicle windshield was broken out and the women’s purse was stolen off of the seat where she left it. They had been parked at the trail access off of the 300 block of 34th St. 

5:30 pm.  Two Anacortes men were cited for consuming alcohol at Whistle Lake in the City Forestlands. Police and Parks Department staff have stepped up patrols in the area.  On July 1, two additional men were cited for the same violation. Both men were Navy personnel. 

Monday, July 1

3:10 am.  Officers are investigating a fight between two men who were attending a party in the 4000 block of “R” Ave. Officers believe alcohol was involved in the incident which sent the 21-year-old to the hospital for stitches to his lip.  The investigation is continuing. 

9:20 am.  Officers are investigating the theft of a Dewalt brand impact driver and five Dewalt rechargeable batteries valued at $450. The theft occurred at a construction site in the 2000 block of “R”Ave. on June 28th or 29th while workers were at lunch.  Officers have questioned a person of interest and are looking for a second person who is believed to be involved. 

5:54 pm.  Skagit Transit reported an intoxicated, shirtless man at the bus stop at 10th and “Q” Ave. Officers contacted the 20-year-old Mount Vernon man and discovered that in addition to being intoxicated he had two arrest warrants for Minor in Possession/Consumption of Alcohol. The jail would not accept him due to overcrowding. The officer issued him a new citation for being a minor in possession and gave him a new court date on the warrants. He caught a later bus back to Mount Vernon. 

10:39 pm.  A 36-year-old Mount Vernon woman is suspected of identity fraud after she tried to use a phony credit card number to obtain a room at a motel in the 1100 block of 6th St.  The hotel proprietor called police after she received a phone reservation from the woman who gave a credit card number and the name of a man as the credit card owner. The card was declined by the credit card company. When the woman showed up to check in, she was greeted by a police officer. Reportedly she said the credit card information came from a friend whose family was trying to help the woman and her companion out.  The woman was denied the room and was allowed to leave. The officer was able to track down the name on the credit card to a man in Wyoming who knew nothing of the transaction or the credit card.  The investigation is continuing. 

11:18 pm.  A 16-year-old Anacortes boy reported to police that while he was looking at “normal porn” on his computer, some child pornography popped up followed immediately by a message alerting him that the FBI had locked the screen as he was looking at illegal material and this matter would be referred to their criminal division unless he remitted $300 following a link on the screen.  Police are well aware of this internet scam as virus attached to files It is called Reveton ransomware, and is designed to extort money from its victims.  The boy was assured he was not wanted by the authorities. More information on internet scams is available at www.IC3.gov

Wednesday, July 3

1:37 pm.  A motel in the 7000 block of SR 20 reported a guest was refusing to leave and had not paid for her room in over a week.  Officers responded and told her she needed to vacate the room. The officers observed that the room was in disarray and had an overwhelming smell of pet urine. Two dogs, both with health issues were removed and taken to the dog pound to receive necessary veterinary care. The 61-year-old woman who occupied the room appeared to be intoxicated. Officers helped her remove her belongings to her vehicle, advised her not to drive and gave her a ride to the downtown area to meet a friend. A short time later the motel reported the woman had returned and had driven away in her vehicle, striking a fence as she was exiting the parking lot. She was later observed driving on “Q” Ave near 6th st. The woman’s car veered into on coming traffic almost striking a car before the officer could initiate a traffic stop. The woman was arrested for DUI and transported to the Skagit County Jail. 

3:01 pm.  Officers responded to a complaint of missing 4-year-old in the 1700 block of 25th St.  The little girl had wandered away from her home within the last 15 minutes. Every available officer responded to the area and neighbors also assisted in searching. The girl was located near 28th St.  and “H” Ave.

5:12 pm.  Officers received a report that a child was left in an unattended vehicle in the area of 4th and “N” Ave. while two adults went into a house where the caller suspected drug activity was occurring.  An officer responded and contacted the person in the car, a 19-year-old Mount Vernon woman.  There were no children in the car. The young woman had an outstanding warrant from Mount Vernon Municipal Court. She was taken into custody. A man and woman returned and were extremely upset over the young woman’s arrest. Neither party had a license to drive, so the vehicle was left on the street. Officers took the young woman back to the office and completed a book-and-release form as the jail was too full to accept her.  While at the office they discovered the man had a misdemeanor warrant from Snohomish County. He was arrested on the warrant and booked into the Snohomish County Jail.