It was a case of mistaken identity last week when an Anacortes man received a threatening letter accusing him of yelling obscenities at children on the Tommy Thompson Trail.

On Nov. 8, an Anacortes woman reported her 8-year-old daughter and her daughter’s friend were riding their bikes on the trail when a man on a bicycle rode by and swore at the girls. He also allegedly threatened to kick the daughter’s rear end.

The woman provided a description of the suspect and police were able to identify the man. Police contact with the suspect is pending.

The next week, an Anacortes man who fit the description, but was not the suspect, reported receiving a threatening letter. The matter is under investigation.

Among the other 178 cases handled by Anacortes police during the previous week:

Friday, Nov. 7

• An Anacortes woman reported the theft of her checkbook and $150 in cash from the room she rented in the 1000 block of Seventh Street. The victim provided the name of a possible suspect because she found the items missing after the man visited her. Police contact with the man is pending.

• An employee of a downtown bar reported a 32-year-old Anacortes man came in bleeding from the head and told the staff he was assaulted by his ex-girlfriend, a 23-year-old Anacortes woman. Officers contacted the man while he was being treated by paramedics. He had several cuts on his face and scratches on his abdomen. The man told officers he was at the woman’s apartment having dinner when she became upset at him because another woman answered his phone the previous day. He said the woman knocked his plate onto the floor, called him an obscene name and began to punch him in the face. The man said he tried to leave, but the woman locked the front door and told him he wasn’t leaving. The man said the woman continued to assault him and they fell to the ground, where she kicked him and punched him in the groin. The man said he was finally able to get out the front door.

Officers learned a domestic violence no-contact order existed from a previous domestic assault that prohibited the woman from having contact with the man. The woman was arrested a few hours later by Swinomish Tribal Police on charges of DUI. When an Anacortes officer spoke with the woman she denied assaulting the man and allegedly said it was her word against his. She was booked into jail for investigation of felony violation of a no contact order.

Saturday, Nov. 8

• A 26-year-old Anacortes man reported the theft of his mountain bike while it was parked outside a business in the 1500 block of Commercial Avenue. The man said he was shopping in the store for about 15 minutes and hadn’t locked his bike. The lock was attached to the bike and it was also stolen.

• An officer responded to the 2700 block of 17th Street after a man reported he found a deer that was shot with an arrow. The man said he was walking his dog in a wooded area and found a large deer that died on the property. When he went to move the deer, he found half a broken arrow shaft under the animal. The officer took the arrow as evidence. There are no suspects.

• An Oak Harbor woman who works at a business in the 900 block of 21st Street reported someone entered her car and stole her purse while she was working. The purse contained the woman’s wallet, identification, credit cards and $100 in cash. The woman said she thought her car was unlocked. There was no sign of forced entry.

Sunday, Nov. 9

• A resident of the 3700 block of M Avenue reported someone threw a red building stone through the rear window of her van parked in her driveway. The window was shattered and the stone was found in the back seat. Estimated damage is $500.

• An Anacortes woman reported she suffered a puncture wound to her hip after being bitten by a dog at her residence in the 2700 block of Washington Boulevard around 11:30 a.m. The woman said two dogs were on her front porch and when she tried to check them for dog tags, one of the dogs bit her. When the officer arrived, the two dogs were running loose in the road and one tried to attack a man who was walking his dog on the street.

The dog owner’s father arrived and took control of the dogs. The dog owner then arrived and said the dogs got out of the yard when the gate was accidentally left open. The offending dog was current on vaccinations. The animal control officer is following up.

• An Anacortes man reported someone shattered two windows on his Ford Mustang while it was parked overnight in the 900 block of Third Street.

• An Oak Harbor woman reported the theft of her purse with her driver’s license, credit cards and a checkbook while she was bowling. The woman said her purse was in a bowling bag under a table. She checked with staff, but no one saw anything suspicious.

• An Anacortes woman reported she was driving north on R Avenue when an unknown vehicle hit the back of her car near the intersection with 28th Street. The victim’s car had rear driver’s side damage and a broken taillight assembly. She said the other vehicle, a large dark-colored car, left the area without stopping. The victim suffered some neck and hip pain as the result of the collision.

Monday, Nov. 10

• An employee of a construction business reported the theft of a chain saw from the back of a company truck the previous week while it was parked in the 6100 block of Parkside Drive. The saw was inadvertently left overnight on the flatbed of the truck. 

Tuesday, Nov. 11

• The owners of a motor home parked in the 2400 block of 42nd Place reported someone broke into it while they were away on vacation. It appeared someone removed a window screen and slid the window open to enter. The dash area of the motor home was removed and a six-disc CD player, six stereo speakers and a single CD player were taken. The value of the stolen items was more than $500. The damage to the dash and window screen was about $400. Several cupboards, drawers and closets were also rifled.

• An Anacortes resident reported someone stole the purse out of her car while it was parked in the 1100 block of Longview Avenue. The victim left the car unlocked overnight. Missing with the purse were cosmetics, papers and photographs, but no cash or credit cards.

Wednesday, Nov. 12

• A woman living in the 2300 block of 37th Street reported the theft of $1,500 from her house. The woman spoke with a relative who was at her house during the time frame but the relative denied taking the money. An officer also spoke with the relative, who said she would not steal from her family.

• A 27-year-old Mount Vernon man was stopped for driving a car with expired license tabs in the 2400 block of R Avenue around 2 a.m. The man did not have insurance on the car and his driving status was suspended for a previous unpaid ticket. He was cited and released for the license offense. He was transported to his place of employment to get a ride from a co-worker after being told not to drive.

About an hour and a half later, the same officer saw the same man driving the same vehicle in the 2600 block of R Avenue at a high speed. The man parked the car in the 900 block of 26th Street and began walking away. The officer contacted the man and asked him why he was driving again after he was told not to drive. The man said he needed to get home to Mount Vernon and none of his co-workers could take him home. When asked why he was driving so fast, the man reportedly replied he was scared of being arrested again. The man was arrested and cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license and his vehicle was impounded. The officer gave him a courtesy ride back to his place of employment.

• A resident of the 1900 block of 11th Street reported someone punctured both right side tires of her vehicle while it was parked in front of her house. The tires appeared to have been punctured with a knife. Estimated repair cost was $200.

• A 14-year-old Anacortes girl suffered minor hand injuries after being hit by a pickup driven by a 46-year-old Burlington man as she crossed the street at 22nd Street and M Avenue just before 2:30 p.m. The pickup stopped at the intersection, but it was reported neither the driver nor the pedestrian saw the other. A bus driver at the intersection said the girl crossed in front of the bus and might not have been seen by the pickup driver when he started through the intersection.

• A man who recently moved to Ontario, Canada reported he found both license plates missing from his 2008 Honda after his vehicle was shipped from Washington. It was in transit for about three weeks and he has no idea when or where the plates were removed.

• An Anacortes resident reported someone struck her BMW while she was parked in a grocery store lot in the 900 block of 11th Street. The vehicle was dented and scraped on the left side. The woman found an unsigned note on her car that said a black pickup hit her car, but the unknown witness didn’t get a license number.

• Officer responded to a medical facility in the 1200 block of 24th Street after it was reported an out-of-control patient was assaulting staff members. The patient was reportedly seven months pregnant, intoxicated and trying to leave the facility. Officers found medical staff trying to restrain the 24-year-old Oak Harbor woman, who was allegedly cursing and resisting.

Before their arrival, the woman allegedly tried to push her way out of an examination room and struck one nurse in the face, then caused another nurse to suffer back pain in the struggle. Officers helped restrain the woman, who continued to be profane and to threaten the staff. The nurses said they did not want to pursue criminal charges but were asked to re-contact police if they changed their minds. 

Thursday, Nov. 13

• A resident of the 2400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue reported he was billed about $20 a month for more than two years for a Web site subscription he had not authorized. The victim learned the subscriber was the son of an acquaintance who was at the victim’s residence numerous times in 2006. The victim believed during one of those visits the son got his debit card number and set up the account. The investigation continues.

• A 13-year-old boy was contacted at Anacortes Middle School about an outstanding warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court. Juvenile probation requested the boy be picked up. He was booked into juvenile detention. 

Friday, Nov. 14

• An officer contacted a 19-year-old Anacortes man riding a bicycle in the 2900 block of I Avenue just after 4 a.m. The man had five outstanding arrest warrants on charges including hit and run, obstructing justice and criminal solicitation. The man was taken into custody. The officer smelled the alcohol on the man, who allegedly admitted drinking two beers. A portable breath sample confirmed he had been drinking. He was cited for underage drinking and booked into jail on the warrants.