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Anacortes Police Blotter, July 23, 2008
July 23, 2008 - 01:00 PM
by Contributed
A 17-year-old Anacortes boy was referred to juvenile court on several charges after an officer saw him biking on D Avenue near 29th Street carrying a six pack of beer around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 16.

When contacted, the teen initially told the officer he was 21.

After the youth was placed under arrest for being a minor in possession, the officer found a bag containing a tan powdery substance.

The teen allegedly told the officer it was ground opium poppy seed bulbs that he claimed was purchased legally over the Internet. He said he planned to boil it and drink it as a tea.

The teen was referred to juvenile court on charges of minor in possession, obstructing and possible drug charges. The powder was sent to the state crime lab for analysis.

Among the other 217 cases handled by Anacortes police during the previous week:

Friday, July 11

• A 39-year-old Oak Harbor man was arrested for allegedly assaulting his former girlfriend at her residence. The woman reported the two argued and the argument turned physical when the man grabbed her and pushed her into a kitchen counter. The man admitted arguing with the woman, but he denied assaulting her. He said he just tried to push past the woman using his shoulder and elbow. He was booked into jail for domestic assault.

• A resident of the 800 block of 26th Street reported the theft of a $1,700 plasma television and a $700 computer from his residence. An officer spoke with two of the man’s friends about the theft. The investigation continues.

Saturday, July 12

• Two men and two women from Bellingham were cited for drinking alcohol in the Forest Lands near Whistle Lake around 3:45 p.m. The group claimed they did not know drinking alcohol at the lake was illegal even though they were seated about 20 feet away from a sign that stated alcohol was prohibited in the ACFL.

• An Anacortes woman reported the theft of her wallet from her unlocked car just before 4 p.m. in the downtown area while she was running errands. The woman later called the police to report that she found her wallet and it had not actually been stolen.

• A 16-year-old boy fled his residence after allegedly cursing at his mother and pushing her to the floor around 7:40 p.m. The boy refused to show his mother what was inside his backpack as he was leaving the house. When the woman tried to look inside the backpack, the boy allegedly shoved her to the floor. A charge of domestic assault is pending.

• A pizza delivery driver reported the theft of his car while it was parked near a business in the 1000 block of 14th Street around 10 p.m. The car was left unlocked. It was found about an hour later near the Guemes Ferry lot and nothing appeared to have been stolen. It was believed the victim’s friends may have been playing a prank on him.

Sunday, July 13

• Officers responded to a fight in progress in an alley near the 1600 block of 13th Street around 12:40 a.m. Officers spoke with several people in a car that was leaving the area, including a man with a bleeding hand. The people claimed they had been at a house party in the area when an unknown man started a fight with the subject with the bloody hand, who was an unwanted guest at the party.

While speaking with the people, an officer noticed a passenger tried to conceal an object on the floor with his foot. The officer checked and found a marijuana pipe and a small amount of marijuana on the floor. A 23-year-old Anacortes man was cited for possession. The driver was also cited for having an open alcohol container in the vehicle.

• A room at a motel in the 2900 block of Commercial Avenue had its door kicked open. Nothing was taken from the room. Estimated damage is $75.

• A thief broke into a pickup in a parking lot behind a restaurant in the 1300 block of Commercial Avenue and removed a $5,000 stereo system from the dash. The vehicle’s alarm system was also disabled during the theft.

• A $50 mountain bike was stolen from outside a building in the 600 block of R Avenue.

• An Oak Harbor woman’s purse was stolen from inside a vehicle parked at Whistle Lake. Several items from inside the purse were found in nearby shrubs, but the victim was still missing credit cards, a checkbook and keys.

• An Anacortes resident reported a car backed into his car in a business parking lot in the 1100 block of Commercial Avenue. The other driver contacted the victim, but spoke little English and drove off before identifying himself. An employee of the business recognized the man and police are working on contacting him.

• A 24-year-old Stanwood man was cited for consuming/possessing alcohol at Whistle Lake after an officer saw a beer bottle sticking out of a cooler in the man’s possession.

• An employee of a business in the 900 block of 17th Street reported the theft of two watches valued at about $10 each. Two suspicious males were seen near the watch display and the employee later found the packaging for the watches in the restroom. The suspects were not located.

Monday, July 14

• A 41-year-old former Seattle man was cited for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of prescription medication. An officer contacted the man, who was living out of his van in the 900 block of 23rd Street, after it was reported he was being a nuisance and had offered a marijuana pipe to a teenager who lived in the neighborhood.

The man told the officer it was a mistake to offer the teen a pipe and he allegedly admitted there was some weed in his van. The officer also found marijuana smoking pipes and a partially filled prescription pill bottle in another person’s name. The man claimed his friend gave him the pills. The man was also informed of the new city ordinance prohibiting living in a vehicle on city streets.

Tuesday, July 15

• A 17-year-old Anacortes teen reported the theft of her cell phone from the area of the skate park. The girl left the phone unattended for a few minutes while she spoke with a friend and when she returned it was gone.

• A 22-year-old Anacortes man was cited for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and booked into jail on two warrants after being stopped in the 900 block of 29th Street for having a defective taillight. The driver was taken into custody for driving with a suspended license and having two outstanding warrants for his arrest. During a search of the man, the officer found a bag of marijuana in the man’s pocket. A scale with flakes of marijuana on it was found under the driver’s seat. The man allegedly said he used the scale to weigh marijuana when he purchased it to make sure he was not getting “ripped off.”

Wednesday, July 16

• A 41-year-old Anacortes man was arrested on a charge of domestic assault after allegedly admitting he had “gone too far” in trying to discipline a teenage boy. He originally called to report his girlfriend’s 15-year-old son ran away. The man said he got into a “wresting match” with the boy in an attempt to keep him from leaving and the boy hit his head. The boy was contacted at his grandmother’s house and said the man told him to leave the house and then tried to pull him back inside. The boy said the man grabbed him by his hair and pushed his head into the door jamb and kneed him in the back. The boy had a bump on the side of his forehead.

Thursday, July 17

• A resident of the 1500 block of Eighth Street reported someone entered her house through an unlocked door and stole a PlayStation game system, games, 10 DVDs and a backpack. The total value of the stolen items was more than $1,000. The victim provided the name of a possible suspect. The investigation continues.

• An Anacortes couple reported someone broke into their van while it was parked on top of Mount Erie. The couple returned from hiking on nearby trails to find a window latch broken. Stolen from the vehicle were a purse, wallet, identification, credit cards, a checkbook and a cell phone.

• A 15-year-old Anacortes boy was arrested at Storvik Park for vandalizing the new playground equipment. The boy and two unknown friends were smearing some type of caulking or lubricant on the slide and other equipment. The boy was unable to provide the names of his friends who already left the area. The boy was released to his mother and was referred to juvenile court for malicious mischief. A damage estimate from the city Parks and Recreation Department is pending.