A 35-year-old Anacortes man was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after being burned in a car accident around 1:34 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27.

Witnesses reported seeing a car in a ditch at Sharpes Corner and the driver running from the scene. An officer found a man limping on Highway 20 a short time later who matched the description given by witnesses.

The man screamed several profanities at the officer, but then allegedly admitted he was using cocaine and marijuana.

He had severe burns on his leg after steaming liquid from the engine splashed on him during the accident. He was transported to the emergency room where it was determined his burns were severe enough that he was airlifted to Harborview.

He faces a DUI charge.

Among the other 190 cases handled by Anacortes police during the previous week:

Saturday, Feb. 27

• A 25-year-old Des Moines man was arrested on a charge of DUI after he drove his car through the middle of the roundabout on Commercial Avenue and damaged the landscaping. As a result of the accident, a tire on the car blew, it leaked fluid and the airbags deployed. The driver was still seated in the car when police arrived and he allegedly told an officer he had “way too much to drink.” The man reportedly smelled strongly of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes and very poor balance when he got out of the car.

Police found several partial bottles of liquor in the car. He performed field sobriety tests even though he reportedly said he would fail them — and he did. He provided breath samples nearly three times the legal limit and was booked into jail. 

Sunday, Feb. 28

• A resident of the 1100 block of I Avenue called police about a 41-year-old man who had been staying with him for a few days and refused to leave. The man had a warrant on a DUI charge. He was contacted near the home and arrested. The officer found a marijuana pipe on the man. He was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and released after the jail refused to book him.

• An officer stopped a car driven by a 30-year-old Mount Vernon man after seeing it spinning its tires and speeding on Oakes Avenue around 3:19 a.m. The driver’s speech was slurred and the officer saw a couple cases of beer in the car. The man allegedly admitted he had a couple earlier, and said he was the designated driver. There were three passengers in the car. He failed field sobriety tests and was arrested on a charge of DUI. He provided breath samples two and a half times the legal limit and was booked in to jail.

• Officers responded to a home after getting a report of a woman beating another woman. A confrontation ensued after one woman, a 52-year-old Anacortes resident, reportedly damaged several items in and outside the house. When a man who lived at the home and had been dating the older woman arrived with a 23-year-old Anacortes woman, the older woman allegedly scratched and punched the younger woman in the face. The older woman said she was mad because the man was “spending too much time” with the younger woman. The older woman was booked into jail on charges of domestic violence malicious mischief and assault.

• An 18-year-old Anacortes man was arrested on a charge of underage drinking after an officer contacted him walking in the 1100 block of 15th Street around 8:09 p.m. The officer contacted the teen about his possible involvement in damaging a stop sign and smelled alcohol on the man. When asked about the odor, he became profane and vulgar toward the officer and was arrested. He allegedly screamed he was not drunk, but had “one beer.” He was cited and given a ride home.

About 20 minutes later, another 18-year-old Anacortes man believed to have been with the other man was contacted in the 1200 block of 15th Street. He smelled of intoxicants, had slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet to the point of almost falling over. He allegedly told the officer “I’ve been drinking but I’m not drunk.” He provided a portable breath sample more than twice the legal driving limit. He was given an underage drinking citation and transported home.

Monday, March 1

• A 15-year-old high school student was referred to juvenile court on theft charges after school officials found a stolen iPod in the boy’s backpack. The boy allegedly admitted taking it from another student’s locker. 

• An off-duty police officer jogging near Rotary Park smelled marijuana when nearing a group of six teenage boys. The officer saw the boys passing a marijuana cigarette, then walked them down the path to where a uniformed officer was waiting. All the teens allegedly admitted smoking marijuana, but only one 18-year-old was in possession of marijuana. He was cited and released. The other teens were all 17 years old and their parents were told of their behavior.

• A 25-year-old Anacortes man was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia after he was contacted inside a vehicle parked at the skate park after hours. The car smelled strongly of burnt marijuana and the man handed the officer a marijuana pipe when he was asked about the odor. There was no marijuana found in the car.

Tuesday, March 2

• Black spray-painted graffiti was found on a garage in the 2000 block of N Avenue. Estimated is $100.

• A 41-year-old man was sent a citation for violation of a court order after he allegedly called his former girlfriend at her residence.

• Two teenage girls found six small bones and a broken filet knife on the rocks at the shoreline in the 100 block of U Avenue. It is unknown if the bones are human or animal. The investigation continues.

Wednesday, March 3

• Officers contacted a 46-year-old man who was reportedly on his porch yelling about being “at war with the Mafia.” The man yelled that an officer was a demon that came to take his blood. Officers are familiar with the man and his mental health history and took him into protective custody while he continued to scream and yell. He was taken to the hospital for evaluation and treatment.

• An officer stopped a car in the 1800 block of 37th Street after recognizing the driver as a 37-year-old Anacortes man with a suspended driver’s license and warrants on charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license. The man was cited for the new driving offense and given new court dates on the warrants because the jail would not accept him for booking.

• Officers stopped a car in the 1600 block of 32nd Street that was reportedly associated with a shoplifting incident at a Burlington department store. A couple in the car allegedly stole numerous articles of baby clothing and a men’s jacket. Officers identified the occupants of the car as a 30-year-old Anacortes man and his 24-year-old wife. The stolen clothing was found inside the car and both the man and woman allegedly admitted shoplifting. A Burlington police officer cited them for theft. The man was also cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license.

• A 17-year-old high school student jogging with the cross country team in the Forest Lands was bitten on the forearm by a dog passing on the narrow trail. The bite punctured the girl’s skin. The dog was leashed but the girl was not able to avoid it when it lunged. The owner identified herself, but was allegedly unapologetic about her dog’s behavior. Animal control will follow up on vaccination and licensing information on the dog.

• An 18-year-old Fidalgo Island man reported he met two teenage males near 17th Street and O Avenue to buy marijuana. He complained they took his $20, but didn’t give him marijuana. The man allegedly admitted he had a pipe with him and a socket containing burnt marijuana residue was in his pocket. The man was cited on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia and released.

• An officer stopped a vehicle in a parking lot near the high school gym just before midnight that failed to stop at a stop sign to check on why it was at the school at that hour. The driver, a 21-year-old Anacortes man, smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. He allegedly said he had a couple beers earlier at a local casino. He handed the officer a credit card instead of his driver’s license. He failed field sobriety tests and allegedly admitted having too much to drink. He was arrested on a charge of DUI and later provided breath samples over twice the legal limit. He was cited and released to a sober friend.

Thursday, March 4

• A high school official speaking with a 17-year-old student at the school smelled the marijuana on the student. School officials searched the student’s backpack and found a small amount of marijuana and a partially eaten apple fashioned into a pipe. The student was referred to juvenile court on charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

• A $300 Stihl brand chain saw was stolen from an unlocked shed in the 3400 block of D Avenue.

• Officers were dispatched to an assault at Fourth Street and O Avenue in which a 20-year-old Anacortes man was reportedly hit several times in the head with a skateboard and then kicked in the head while on the ground. The suspect fled the scene on foot.

The victim was transported to the emergency room with bruising to his head, but it was unknown if he suffered any internal injuries. The victim said the suspect approached him and said something about the victim making a bad name for himself. He provided a first name for the suspect. Witnesses saw the incident and provided a description. Police believe they know the suspect. The investigation continues.

• Police are looking to contact a 26-year-old Hope Island man after he allegedly stole a case of beer from a store in the 900 block of 11th Street. Employees watched him leave the store without paying for the beer, and when they contacted him in the parking lot, the man threw the beer into a pickup and drove away. The employee got the license plate number. 

Friday, March 5

• Vandals overturned outdoor tables, damaged several planter boxes, knocked over newspaper vending machines and tossed a metal can into the street in the area of the 500 block of Commercial Avenue at about 12:49 a.m. Police were able to put most of the items back in place.

• An officer stopped a car in the 1000 block of 29th Street for speeding on Commercial Avenue around 1:24 a.m. The driver, a 40-year-old Anacortes man, smelled of intoxicants, had watery bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. He said he had “two sips” of beer at a friend’s house and a can of beer at another friend’s house. He failed field sobriety tests and was arrested on a charge of DUI. He later admitted he drank a lot more than he initially said. He provided breath samples more than one and a half times the legal limit. He was cited and released.

Read more local news in the Skagit Valley Herald and the Anacortes American, or read it online in the E-edition