Police Blotter: Burglar takes numerous items; would-be burglar and companions arrested; man attacked with white powder after honking at motorist; shoplifter arrested in Ballard
Fri, 11/11/2011
By Cassandra Baker, Intern
8:36 a.m. on November 8th. 8th block of NW 90th St
A man called police after he came home to find his front door unlocked, lights on in his house, and numerous items missing. The burglar entered through the back gate and managed to force open a locked sliding glass door. The suspect then took collector coins, jewelry, a DVR, the key to the victim’s car, and two valuable guitars. The responding officer found fingerprints on drawer handles and the TV stand doors.
3:48 a.m. on November 6th. 97th block of Holman Rd NW
A witness called police very early on the morning of November 6th after seeing someone trying to pry open the back door of a closed restaurant. The suspect was described as a male with a medium build wearing a red jacket and a dark baseball hat. The suspect was seen dropping a tool and heading southbound on 6th Ave NW on foot.
The responding officer stopped a vehicle with three passengers as it was leaving the restaurant’s driveway. The male passenger of the vehicle was sitting on a red jacket and had a dark baseball cap on the dashboard. The officer detained and identified the three occupants of the vehicle. The driver was arrested for driving with a suspended license. The suspect in the burglary was found to have a current felony warrant out for his arrest. The suspect also had recent convictions for burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle. The rear passenger of the vehicle also had a warrant out for his arrest.
The witness to the attempted burglary identified the jacket and cap of the suspect and said that the suspect’s build was consistent with that of the burglar. The suspect’s vehicle contained a bag that held tools including a hatchet, pliers, and an electric grinder.
10:41 a.m. on November 5th. 17th block of NW Market St
A man called police on the night of November 5th after being threatened by the driver of another car. The victims were driving west on NW 60th St when another car almost crashed into them. The victim honked his horn at the other driver and kept going. The driver of the other vehicle began to follow the victims’ car and pulled up next to them. The suspect motioned for the victim in the passenger’s seat to roll down the window. The victim thought that the suspect was going to apologize and opened the window. Instead, the suspect threw a white powder at the victims. The powder hit their faces, causing a burning sensation to their eyes and lungs. The victims called police, who determined that the powder came from a fire extinguisher.
The suspect’s vehicle was described as a silver 4-door sedan. There were four white male occupants in their 20s to 30s with short hair. Police were unable to locate them.
7:37 p.m. on November 4th. 14th block of NW Market St
On the evening of November 7th police responded to a report that a shoplifter had been detained at a Ballard grocery store. The store security officer said that he was standing at the store entrance when he saw a man enter the store and pick up chips, salsa and beer and then attempt to leave the store without paying for them. The officer approached the man, identified himself as security, and asked him to put down the items. The suspect refused and continued to try to leave the store. The officer asked him a second time, and the suspect pushed the officer away and swung the case of beer at him. A scuffle ensued, and the officer was able to detain and handcuff the suspect. When police arrived the suspect was arrested and taken to the North Precinct and then booked into King County Jail.