By Cassandra Baker, Intern

11:40 p.m. on October 1st. 25th block of NW 85th St

A man was attacked from behind while walking to a bus stop late on the night of October 1st. The victim said that two male suspects struck the back of his head with an unknown object and attempted to steal his backpack. The victim said that he held on to the backpack even when the suspects forced him to the ground. The suspects then let go and fled on foot.

The victim called his mother and his friend to come pick him up, and the friend called police. The victim said that he could not provide a description of the suspects. He was treated at the scene and taken to Swedish Hospital in Ballard for further treatment.

6:40 a.m. on October 1st. 14th block of NW Market St

A would-be shoplifter was arrested after threatening employees at a Ballard grocery store. The victim, a clerk at the store, said that he saw the man take a tray of shrimp. The victim followed the suspect and watched him take a candy bar and walk past the checkout stands without paying for anything. The victim confronted the man and attempted to take the items back, but the suspect pulled out a six-inch-long piece of metal and waved it at the victim. At this point a witness came up and hit the suspect on the arm, causing him to drop the piece of metal. The witness and the victim then tackled the suspect, who said that he would stab them.

The responding officer arrested and handcuffed the suspect and read him his rights. The suspect said that he did not understand his rights, and the officer observed that the suspect had been yelling through part of them.

2:00-3:00 a.m. on October 1st. 3rd block of NW 85th St

A man’s lucky night at a bar turned violent when he was robbed by an acquaintance. The victim said that he won about $700 in cash on a number drawing in pool. He bought drinks to celebrate and met the suspect, with whom he had a drink. They then shared a cab to a Jack in the Box, got something to eat, and went to the victim’s apartment. The victim said that the suspect followed him to the front door of his apartment and punched him in the face. The suspect then stole the victim’s winnings and his cell phone and fled. The victim refused medical attention. He told the responding officer that he had never met the suspect before and only knew his first name.

11:30 p.m. on September 30th. 43rd block of 3rd Ave NW

A woman called police to report that her guitars had been stolen. She believed that the burglary occurred while she left her door unlocked for the day so that her friend could come walk her dog while the victim was at work. The victim said that the burglar may have been her friend’s boyfriend, who came to her apartment before the burglary. The victim said that the suspect had been in jail and looked rough. She did not let him into her apartment.

The victim said that her friend and her friend’s boyfriend regularly used the bedroom where the guitars were stored. Both guitars are rare and valuable.

The officer interviewed the victim’s friend, who said that she didn’t have a current address for the suspect but that he spent a lot of time in the University District.

8:30 a.m. on September 29th. 14th block of NW 50th St

A Ballard church was burglarized on the night of September 28th. The complainant said that he arrived at the church on the morning of the 29th to find that his laptop had been stolen from its case. He said that he hade made sure to lock all of the doors before he left the night before. He said that nothing else appeared to be missing even though there were other valuable items in the building. The church’s alarm system did not go off, and the only point of entry that would not set off the alarm is a roof vent. The responding officer found a possible shoe print on the counter beneath the vent.

Two laptops had previously been stolen from the building, and the mode of operation was the same.