Domestic violence; prescription painkiller theft; stolen checks; assault; auto collision with tree | San Juan County Sheriff’s log

The San Juan County Sheriff's department reported responding to the following calls between Oct. 10-22.

October 28, 2011 6:32 am

Oct. 10: An envelope containing nine checks totaling nearly $9,000 disappeared from the office of an Orcas Island sewage design company in an apparent theft. The envelope was last seen on a desk inside the office in early afternoon and intended for deposit the following day.

Oct. 12: An Orcas Island man could face charges of assault after his alleged victim reportedly had a change of heart. The 44-year-old claims that the 41-year-old man with whom he shares a home, held him on the ground and repeatedly punched him in the face, causing injuries that were reportedly visible. The alleged altercation is under review by prosecutors after the 44-year-old, who initially opted against pressing charges, changed his mind the following day.

Oct. 13: A single-car collision on Lopez Island, in which 57-year-old man riding in the front passenger seat suffered a severed artery and a compound fracture, remains under investigation. The driver, a 49-year-old man, reportedly left the scene after colliding his Honda Civic head-on into a tree near the 900 block of School Road shortly after 7 p.m. The man, whose passenger was airlifted for treatment at a mainland hospital, reportedly claimed that he lost control of the vehicle as he swerved to miss a deer, may have been exceeding the 35 mph speed limit, but that he wasn’t impaired at the time of the crash.

— A familiar face led to mid-morning arrest of a San Juan Island man who reportedly failed to appear in court on an alleged DUI offense. A warrant had been issued for arrest of the 57-year-old, who was taken into custody near the main ferry parking lot in Friday Harbor at about 11 a.m.

Oct. 14: A Lopez Island man was arrested on an alcohol-related charge shortly before midnight. The 20-year-old was taken into custody for being a minor in possession near the intersection of Fisherman Bay Road and Marine Drive.

— A San Juan Island man who was apprehended by employees for allegedly shoplifting at a Friday Harbor grocery store escaped before authorities arrived at the scene. The 27-year-old, seized in the rear parking of the store by employees, broke free and dashed out a back door after being escorted inside to wait for deputies to arrive. He reportedly clipped the arm of an employee with his car as he sped from the parking lot.

Oct. 15: A San Juan Island man who allegedly tried to slip out the back door of a Friday Harbor grocery store with a bag containing $100 of unpaid merchandise, and was nabbed by employees, was later arrested for shoplifting. The 25-year-old, apprehended in the store’s rear parking, was taken into custody by deputies at about 8:30 p.m.

— A San Juan Island man who reportedly caught the eye of a deputy while taking a corner at a high rate of speed was arrested for DUI following a late night traffic stop near the intersection of Guard Street and Tucker Avenue. The 20-year-old, who could face additional charges because of contraband that deputies reportedly found later in his car, was taken into custody at about 1:30 a.m. His passenger, a 19-year-old man, was allowed to leave the scene of the traffic stop on foot.

Oct. 20: A late-night scuffle outside a Friday Harbor bar prompted the arrest of a San Juan Island woman for disorderly conduct. The 29-year-old was taken into custody near the intersection of First and Sprint streets at about 1:30 a.m.

— A early morning home invasion and apparent act of vandalism led to the arrest of a San Juan Island man, who reportedly returned to the scene several hours later to confess to the alleged crime. The 21-year-old was taken into custody at a Cougar Lane home at about 10 a.m. Roughly $550 worth of computer equipment was reportedly damaged following the break-in.

Oct. 21: An Orcas Island man wanted in connection with a case involving an alleged felony offense was taken into custody at his Eastsound home at about noon. Deputies escorted the 36-year-old to Sheriff’s headquarters in Friday Harbor after the man was reportedly unable to post $600 bail.

Oct. 22: A San Juan Island woman claims someone broke into her car, rifled through her belongings and stole 47 tablets of prescription painkillers she had inside her vehicle at the time. The 64-year-old noted that the thief took the time to put the cap back on the prescription container, reseal it and stash it inside of one of her bags.

— Allegations of assault led to a late-night arrest of a Orcas Island at Eastsound home following an apparent episode of domestic violence. The 37-year-old, who allegedly twice shoved a woman with whom he shares the home and tried to choke her with a sweater, was taken into custody at about 1:30 a.m.