Police Blotter, June 10 - 15, 2017

In what may be a typical story in our small city, a rescued, painted turtle was freed at an island lake.

On Tuesday morning, June 13, the APD Animal Control Officer responded to a report of a found turtle. Someone had dropped a painted turtle off at a local animal clinic, concerned that someone had lost a pet. The turtle is native to the area and was released into Little Cranberry Lake.

Here are some other cases Anacortes Police reported on this week.

Saturday, June 10, 2017

A staff member at Washington Park called police just before 11PM on Saturday to report a visitor who was refusing to leave Sunset Beach. Investigation on scene revealed that when confronted, the man refused to leave despite the fact that the park had closed nearly an hour before. Park staff requested that the man be removed and banned and officers went to speak with him at the beach. The 49-year old ignored multiple verbal attempts to get him to leave the park and he was taken into custody for trespassing and transported to the police department. A search of his belongings incident to arrest yielded a bottle with someone else’s name on it containing prescription medication. The man was later released with a copy of a trespass form from the park as well as a citation for criminal trespassing and possession of a legend drug.

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Early Sunday morning, an APD Corporal on patrol near Sharpes Corner observed a pickup drifting in and out of its lane of travel multiple times in a one-mile distance. The Corporal performed a traffic stop near Commercial Avenue and 38th Street and spoke with the 39-year old Coupeville driver. The driver’s eyes were bloodshot and watery and the vehicle smelled of alcohol. The man stepped out of the vehicle to take roadside sobriety tests and was somewhat unsteady on his feet. He was taken into custody for DUI and transported to APD where he provided a breath sample over the legal limit to safely operate a vehicle. He was later provided a courtesy transport to a friend’s home in Anacortes and released.

Just after 4PM on Sunday, an APD Officer was dispatched to the hospital per a report from hospital staff that a man had driven to the hospital and appeared to be impaired. The officer spoke with the driver in the hospital and asked if he had been drinking. He admitted that he had been drinking and he had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. The 59-year old initially refused to step outside to discuss the matter further until backup officers arrived and convinced him to do so. He was taken into custody for DUI and transported to APD for processing. The man provided a breath sample of approximately twice the legal limit to safely operate a motor vehicle and was later released from the scene.

Monday, June 12, 2017

A 19-year old La Conner driver was arrested for Driving With License Suspended early Monday morning by an APD Corporal on patrol near Sharpes Corner. The man was stopped just after midnight for an inoperable taillight on his car and stated that he was unaware that his license was suspended. He was cited and released from the scene after agreeing to arrange for a licensed driver to pick him up.

Two stray kittens were taken to a local pet shelter after someone called police to report that they were living in blackberry bushes near their home on the east side of town. 

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Someone called police on Tuesday to report an injured fawn on the 1200 block of 14th Street. The Animal Control Officer and a Fish and Wildlife Officer responded to the area, but were unable to locate the injured deer.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

A 30TH Street resident called police at 5PM Wednesday afternoon to report that his driver’s side window was broken out of his vehicle sometime in the past two hours. Though the object that broke the window was not found, two possible explanations exist for the broken window—a rock may have been thrown from a neighbor’s mower as it had recently been cut, or a piece of gravel may have been kicked up from a fresh pile of gravel on the road. There are no suspects.

At 6 PM on Wednesday, an Anacortes Police Officer was dispatched to the 1000 block of 7th Street per the report of a male trying to start fights at an establishment in the area. The officer spoke with a 46-year old male sitting outside to determine why he was being combative with other patrons. He was questioned by the officer, but had a difficult time following the conversation and provided nonsensical answers. After further conversations with business staff, the man was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and theft based on a staff member’s statement that he had gone behind the bar and helped himself to a couple drinks. He was later transported to the police station where he continued to act erratically. He was later transported to the hospital for an evaluation. 

A 40-year old Burlington man was arrested by APD late Wednesday night after an officer contacted him in the 1400 block of 17th Street for an active arrest warrant. A search incident to arrest yielded two containers with meth and heroin. The K9 Officer arrived on scene a short time later and K9 T-Bone alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics in the vehicle the man was standing by. As a result, the vehicle was impounded and taken to APD to be searched. The man was booked in the Skagit County Jail on an investigative hold for his warrant and drug charges.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Just after 2AM on Thursday, an Anacortes Police Officer was in a convenience store on 12th Street when he observed a man he knew from previous contacts as well as a female who made a concerted effort not to be seen by the officer, concealing her face by putting her hood up. The officer ran a records check on a woman commonly associated with the man that returned with two active misdemeanor warrants. The officer contacted the woman who provided him with a false name and walked away from the scene. Further investigation revealed that the woman in the store was the wanted person and had a felony Department of Corrections warrant in addition to the misdemeanor warrants. Officers searched the area and located a house on 9th Street where they thought the two were hiding. Swinomish Tribal units arrived as backup and an officer later tackled the female suspect to the ground as she attempted to flee on foot near 9th and O Avenue. The male subject was also arrested and interviewed, stating that he was trying to be a good boyfriend to the woman. The man was taken to APD and later released with a copy of a rendering criminal assistance citation. The 38-year old woman was booked and released on her Mount Vernon warrants and later released to Department of Corrections Officers.

An APD Officer contacted a 60-year old San Diego driver on Thursday afternoon near Oakes Avenue and Anacopper Road for improper passing in the left turn lane. A records check revealed that his California license was suspended. He was cited and released at the scene.

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.