Police blotter Posted by Kimberly Jacobson | May 14, 2012 | 575 views

Police responded to the report of a fight at a tavern in the 1900 block of Commercial Avenue around 10:15 p.m. Thursday, May 10. The caller said a man was holding a knife to a bartender.

Police arrived and found a large crowd of people outside the bar and learned that a 33-year-old Fidalgo Island man had been asked to leave the bar after he became unruly toward other bar patrons. A bartender followed him outside to make sure he was leaving the property and the man reportedly starting yelling profanities and racial slurs at the bartender.

The bartender pulled out a can of pepper spray at which time the man pulled out a knife and walked toward the bartender. The bartender then sprayed the man with the pepper spray and the man then spit in the bartender’s face.

Witnesses confirmed the bartender’s version of events.

The 33-year-old man was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, assault and brandishing a weapon. He was booked into jail after being treated for the pepper spray.

Among the other 211 cases handled by Anacortes police during the previous week:

Friday, May 4

• Anacortes Police assisted a Department of Corrections officer in checking on a 35-year-old man who lived at a home in the 2700 block of Oakes Avenue. He was on community custody and under the supervision of the Department of Corrections.

The DOC officer had reason to believe the man was involved in drug activity. During a search of the house, the officers found baggies containing methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin; prescription pills; a scale; baggies; a drug-smoking pipe and several Washington Quest cards that were not in the man’s name.

The man allegedly admitted all the drug items were his, but he would not provide an explanation about the Quest cards. He was taken into custody by the DOC officer for violating the terms of his community custody. He faces new felony charges for possession of illegal drugs and possession with intent to distribute.

• Hikers on a trail near Little Cranberry Lake found several empty bullet casings and one live round. Police received a report of several gunshots being heard near the lake the previous day. There did not appear to be any gunshot damage in the area. The public is reminded that the discharge of firearms within the Anacortes city limits is prohibited.

Saturday, May 5

• An officer stopped a car in the 900 block of D Avenue around 1 a.m. after confirming the 39-year-old female driver had a warrant for a previous domestic violence no-contact order violation. The officer also smelled the strong odor of intoxicants on the woman although she claimed she hadn’t been drinking. She failed field sobriety tests and was arrested on a charge of DUI as well as for the warrant.

She then allegedly said that’s she couldn’t believe it because she only had “two drinks.” She provided breath samples that were significantly over the legal limit. She cited DUI and for driving with a suspended license. As the jail would not accept her for booking, she was released to a sober relative.

• Someone vandalized a car parked in the 1400 block of 16th Street by puncturing the sidewall of a tire. Estimated damage is $200. The victim provided the names of several people she believed were capable of causing the damage.

• Police arrested a 49-year-old Mount Vernon man in the 600 block of R Avenue on three Skagit County District Court warrants from previous DUI arrests. They had 60- and 120-jail day commits. He was booked into jail.

• Officers were dispatched to a complaint about a loud party at a home in the 1000 block of Fidalgo Avenue in which witnesses reported yelling, loud music and teenagers coming and going from the home around 11:54 p.m. When officers arrived, some people who appeared to be underage and intoxicated ran back into the house and the lights went out. Officers could smell the odor of intoxicants coming from the house and a 29-year-old man finally came outside to speak with them.

After police spoke with the man, he ordered everyone out of his home. Police then arrested nine people ranging from age 17 to 20 on underage drinking charges after all of them showed the effects of drinking. A 16-year-old Anacortes girl was also charged with making a false statement after she initially provided a fake ID to an officer that showed she was 21. The 29-year-old man was charged with furnishing liquor to minors.

Sunday, May 6

• Witnesses reported seeing a van driving at a high rate of speed slide around the corner of Eighth Street and H Avenue and then travel off the roadway through a flower bed tearing up the plants around 6:24 p.m. The driver was reported to be a young blonde girl.

Police found the vehicle in the area and identified the driver as a 13-year-old Anacortes girl. Another 13-year-old girl was a passenger in the van. The driver allegedly admitted she took her mother’s van without her permission because she thought it would be “fun.” The driver was referred to juvenile court on charges of driving without a valid license and hit and run for the property damage.

• Burlington police assisted Anacortes officers by arresting a 23-year-old man in Burlington after he allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend at her home. The man arrived uninvited and reportedly pounded on the woman’s bedroom window and threatened her. He then allegedly grabbed the woman by her shirt and throat before leaving. He was booked into jail on domestic violence assault charges.

• A 22-year-old woman was arrested at a home in the 600 block of 37th Street on four warrants out of Anacortes and Mount Vernon courts for previous charges of theft, driving with a suspended license and possession of a drug without a prescription. She was booked into jail.

Monday, May 7

• An officer on foot patrol in the wooded area behind the high school arrested a 19-year-old man out of a group of teens found in the area after confirming he had a warrant for a previous arrest for underage drinking and possession of drug paraphernalia. During a search, the officer found a glass marijuana smoking pipe in the man’s pocket.

The jail would not accept him for booking. He was released after being given a new citation for possession of drug paraphernalia.

• A 43-year-old man who is under the supervision of the Department of Corrections faces charges of failing to register as a sex offender after providing false information about where he was living. The man provided an address on 27th Street, but the homeowner at the address told authorities the man was not staying there nor was he welcome to be at the home.

The homeowner also said the man told him he was possibly going to flee to Oregon. The man is required to register as a sex offender based upon a 2002 Oregon conviction for sexual abuse.

• Police responded to a home regarding the report of a possibly suicidal man with a bat and swords. Upon arrival, the man’s girlfriend told police he was going “crazy” and he had thrown a chair out the front window and was threatening to throw the refrigerator next. He was also reported to be swinging a bat toward people in the house, including his girlfriend, and had threatened her.

After police had everyone safely exit the house, officers entered and took the man into custody without incident. He allegedly said he didn’t want to hurt anyone and just wanted to leave. He was booked into jail on a charge of domestic violence harassment.

Tuesday, May 8

• A Dell laptop computer was stolen from an unlocked office in the administrative building at a care facility in the 1100 block of 27th Street. A cable lock that secured the computer to a desk was cut by the unknown thief.

• A Seattle man reported he suspected a couple he met and allowed onto his boat at a marina in the 1000 block of Q Avenue stole several items from his boat. He said he struck up a conversation with the man and woman on the dock and then invited them onto his boat.

After the couple left, he found he was missing a Kindle Fire, a Canon camera, a portable television, a pair of binoculars, and $40 in cash. Total estimated loss is $500. Police are trying to identify the unknown couple. A telephone number the couple provided the victim was not a working number.

• An unknown woman pushing a baby stroller is suspected of stealing a photo book, a children’s plush stuffed animal, toddler utensils, and a divided plate from a retail business in the 1000 block of Ninth Street.

An employee was suspicious of the woman’s behavior. The employee found the packaging to the missing photo book on the floor in a secluded corner of the business where the suspect had been standing. Police area trying to identify the suspect from security camera video.

• An Oak Harbor woman reported she believed someone stole her checkbook from her purse while she was at a medical facility in the 1200 block of 24th Street. She said she left her purse unattended for a few minutes while she was in an examination room and she later found the checkbook was missing. The woman was unsure if the checkbook was stolen or if she lost it.

• Police counseled a 20-year-old Anacortes man about making better decisions after he walked into an adult care facility in the 1100 block of 27th Street with a bb gun tucked in his waistband. An employee of the facility saw the gun protruding from the man’s pants and the facility went into lockdown. The man then left with another employee and was contacted by police a short time later at the employee’s home.

The man told police he carried the bb gun for “protection” as he wasn’t old enough to carry a real gun. He said his coat might have blown open, accidentally revealing the bb gun. He had not meant to cause a commotion because he had not intentionally shown the gun to anyone.

Wednesday, May 9

• A 47-year-old man was found hiding in the attic of a home in the 1200 block of 30th Street and was arrested on six warrants for previous burglary, theft, hit and run, vehicular assault, and identity theft charges. One of the warrants had a 15-day jail commit. He was also booked on an investigative charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm stemming from a previous Anacortes case in which he allegedly sold another man a rifle. He was booked into jail.

• A Craftsman brand tool cabinet containing a new wrench and socket set was stolen from a home in the 700 block of 37th Street. Estimated loss is $200.

Thursday, May 10

• A man returned to his home in the 1900 block of 24th Street and found food left out in his kitchen and a laundry room window damaged. The man checked his house and found his 18-year-old nephew and a 16-year-old girl sleeping in his spare bedroom.

The man had previously told his nephew he was not allowed inside the house. The man attempted to detain the two intruders while he called police, but his nephew fled the home.

The girl told police the nephew invited her into the home and she was unaware he had been told he was not welcome. The girl was informed she was going to be charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after two drug-smoking pipes and a syringe were found in her purse. She was taken home and released to her mother.

The nephew was issued a court summons on charges of criminal trespass and malicious mischief.

• A resident of the 700 block of 37th Street found that several pieces of jewelry valued at more than $9,000 had been stolen from a jewelry chest in her bedroom. The victim believed the theft possibly occurred at the same time a tool cabinet and tools were stolen from her home as reported on Wednesday.

• A 1978 Gypsy motor home reported stolen out of Mount Vernon three days earlier was found parked in a lot near Skyline Way and Cabana Lane. It was unoccupied. The Mount Vernon Police Department was advised and they were going to contact the victim.

• An officer arrested a 20-year-old Anacortes man in the 700 block of Q Avenue after stopping him for driving with a suspended license. When the man was searched, the officer found a syringe filled with a brown liquid and a small amount of suspected heroin wrapped in plastic in the man’s coat pocket.

He allegedly admitted there was heroin in the syringe and in the wrapper and he had intended to inject it. He faces charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license.

• A $100 Apple iPhone was stolen from a student’s backpack left in the girls locker room at the Middle School while the student was outside for PE class.

Friday, May 11

• Tobacco and a cigarette-rolling machine were stolen from a pickup parked in the 1800 block of Down Jones Way.