Meds missing, menaced by Mustang, New Year’s Eve alleged assault prompts arrest; San Juan County Sheriff’s Log

Jan. 2: An Anacortes couple claims they were harassed, threatened and stalked by the driver of a mid-80s Mustang during an excursion at the south end of San Juan Island. The driver, described as a white male, 20-30 years of age, with a dark mustache and knitted cap, reportedly briefly blocked the couple's car in parking lot at South Beach, sped off, and later pursued the couple as they drove out of the park, tailgating them aggressively for several miles along the way.

San Juan County Sheriff’s Department reported responding to these calls:

Dec. 19: A family dispute led to the arrest of a Lopez Island woman accused of using her fist to shatter the window on the backdoor of her brother’s home in order to get inside. The 27-year-old, who reportedly broke the window because her brother refused to let her in, faces charges of trespassing and misdemeanor vandalism.

Dec. 23: A total of $12,520 in merchandise and hand-crafted jewelry disappeared in an apparent pre-dawn break-in and theft at an Orcas Island jewelry shop. Someone reportedly shattered the front window of the North Beach Road shop with a very large rock, grabbed an assortment of jewelry and merchandise and then fled the scene.

Dec. 27: A multitude of deep tire tracks were carved into the Friday Harbor fairgrounds n an apparent episode of late-night vandalism. Authorities believe the culprit, who also crashed into an electrical panel, was driving a rear-wheel-driven vehicle with lower than average ground clearance.

Dec. 29: A single-car collision near the intersection of Orcas and Swan roads led to the arrest of an Orcas Island man for DUI. The 54-year-old, who was taken into custody at about 8:30 p.m., reportedly escaped the crash without suffering significant injury.

Dec. 30: Computer equipment, three penlights and $50 in coins disappeared in an apparent early morning theft at an inn at the north end of Eastsound, the latest in a string of break-ins and thefts around Orcas Island’s commercial core. The owner of the inn reportedly notified authorities of the theft, totaling $300 in missing items, shortly after 4 a.m.

Dec. 31: Failure to obey a stop sign prompted the arrest of a San Juan Island man following a late-night traffic stop in the wee hours of New Year Eve. The 42-year-old, who was pulled over near the intersection of Argyle Avenue and Nichols Street shortly before 2 a.m., was also ticketed for driving with a broken taillight.

A credit card belonging to an Orcas Island woman was used to make three separate purchases online totaling $1,062 in an apparent case of fraud. The charges, reportedly made without the 71-year-old’s knowledge or permission, were reversed by the bank that issued the card.

Jan. 1: Allegations of assault led to the arrest of an Orcas Island man accused of attacking a 19-year-old woman at a New Year’s Eve celebration at Odd Fellows Hall. The 20-year-old, also charged with an alcohol-related offense, was taken into custody in the 200 block of Main Street shortly before 1 a.m. The alleged victim was also arrested for being a minor in possession of alcohol.

Jan. 2: An Anacortes couple claims they were harassed, threatened and stalked by the driver of a mid-80s Mustang during an excursion at the south end of San Juan Island. The driver of the Mustang, described as a white male, 20-30 years of age, with a dark mustache and wearing knitted cap, reportedly blocked the couple’s car in parking lot at South Beach for several minutes, sped off, and later pursued the couple as they drove out of the park, tailgating them aggressively for several miles along the way. The Mustang also reportedly reappeared later outside the trailer where the couple was staying, where it idled for awhile before it then sped away.

A Lopez Island woman vowed to remove the assortment of garbage and debris that she reportedly dumped on the property of a next door neighbor without permission. The 71-year-old also reportedly apologized for the trespass and the transgression.

Failure to both obey a stop sign and use a turn signal prompted a criminal citation for a San Juan Island woman for driving with a suspended license following a late-night traffic stop in Friday Harbor. The 35-year-old was pulled over near the intersection of Second and Court streets at about 11:30 p.m.

Jan. 4: An Orcas Island woman claims someone stole her supply of prescription painkillers while she was onboard a mid-afternoon ferry out of Anacortes and bound for home. The missing medication includes 100 tablets of Oxycodone.

Jan. 6: A ornamental ship’s clock made of mahogany and brass vanished from a Friday Harbor home in an apparent case of theft. The clock, valued at $2,325, was displayed on a shelf in the living room of a 82-year-old man’s Franck Street home at the time it disappeared.

Jan. 7: Failure to come to a stop at a stop sign prompted the arrest of a San Juan Island woman for DUI following a late night traffic stop at the intersection of Harbor and Tucker streets. The 24-year-old, who was pulled over at about 10 p.m., was also ticketed for failing to stop.

Jan. 8: Failure to use a turn signal prompted a criminal citation for an Orcas Island man for driving with a suspended license following a mid-afternoon traffic stop at the intersection of Henry and North Beach roads. The 56-year-old, whose license reportedly was suspended for neglecting to pay an out-of-state parking ticket, was pulled over at about 3:30 p.m. He also was ticketed for failing to signal before making a turn and received a warning for expired registration.

Lack of illumination over a license plate led to a criminal citation for for a San Juan Island woman for driving with a suspended license following a late-evening traffic stop at the intersection of C and Nichols streets. The 18-year-old, pulled over shortly before 10 p.m., was given a warning about the lack of lights above her license plate.

Jan. 9: The numbers of a credit card belonging to a Friday Harbor man were used to purchase $2,600 of merchandise in Italy in an apparent case of fraud. The credit card company reportedly closed the 19-year-old’s account immediately after contacting his mother, who lives in China, about the purchases, which were reportedly made without the man’s knowledge or permission.

— Scott Rasmussen