A school bus clipped the rear tire of a bicycle on Friday, April 29, in the intersection of North Mercer Way and 76th Avenue S.E. at 3:56 p.m. The bicyclist fell and hit the roadway, sustaining a sore elbow and ribs. Police could not determine who failed to yield the right of way, as the bus driver had proceeded forward when it was clear, after stopping, but the bicyclist thought the bus had stopped to allow him to cross.
The Mercer Island Police Department reported 1,101 calls for service during the month of April, with eight total traffic accidents, one DUI accident, five DUI arrests, one bike/pedestrian accident, 292 total citations, 32 criminal traffic citations, 25 parking citations, 20 thefts, one auto theft, 12 burglaries, one robbery case and seven cases of simple assault. Police made 30 arrests.
April 27
Burglary: A house in the 5200 block of West Mercer Place was burglarized while it was unoccupied between 8 p.m. on Wednesday night and 1:15 p.m., Thursday afternoon. The garage was unsecured, which enabled someone to enter the house. Unknown suspects stole Nikon binoculars, an iPod docking station with speakers, and a mason jar full of coins.
April 28
Drifting boat: Mercer Island Marine Patrol secured an empty rowboat adrift in the East Channel, off of the 4400 block of East Mercer Way, after 4:15 p.m.
Malicious mischief: A sign at Sunrise Assisted Living in the 2900 block of 76th Avenue S.E. was spraypainted sometime after 4 p.m., or later that night.
April 29
Accident: A vehicle hit a tree at 3:15 p.m. down a driveway in the 9800 block of S.E. 42nd Place. The driver, 86, told police that he “missed the pedal” while stopping for his mail at the top of his driveway and accelerated instead of braking. He sustained a back injury and was taken to the hospital after he was removed from the vehicle.
Malicious mischief: A real estate sign and concrete wall were spraypainted in the 7900 block of East Mercer Way, on the property of a house for sale, between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m.
April 30
Reckless endangerment: Police arrested a 16-year-old male at 3:40 p.m. at the North end QFC after he shot at a passing vehicle with a BB/airsoft gun in the 7900 block of S.E. 34th Street. The vehicle was not damaged, and the suspect was identified by his blue and green Seahawks hat. Marijuana was found in the suspect’s backpack and the teen was later released to his parents.
May 1
DUI: Police stopped a speeding Lexus using a lane improperly in the 7800 block of S.E. 28th Street and arrested the driver, a 26-year-old Auburn woman, at 2:37 a.m. She had admittedly been drinking, and failed standard field sobriety tests. Her vehicle was impounded. She was later released to a sober friend.
Accident: A vehicle cut a corner while turning left from S.E. 32nd Street onto 81st Place S.E. and hit an oncoming car. The vehicle had crossed over the center line into the opposite lane. No injuries were reported.
May 2
Burglary: A silver Trek bicycle was stolen out of a garage in the 6400 block of East Mercer Way sometime after April 28. The resident had no potential suspects and had not loaned the bike to anyone.
Fender-bender: A vehicle rear-ended an SUV that was stopped at the intersection of S.E. 40th Street and Island Crest Way at 10:20 a.m. The road was wet and the driver was cited with following too close. The impact of the collision moved the vehicles a few car lengths to the south of the intersection.
Money clip: A Bellevue man reported finding a money clip, along with a driver’s license and credit cards, on the driver’s seat of his vehicle at 3:30 p.m. on May 1 in the Coal Creek Trail parking lot in Bellevue. He found the items after hiking and turned them in at the MIPD.
Theft: A student’s bike went missing sometime after April 28, when the student went home sick and left the bike at school in the 8200 block of S.E. 72nd Street.
Theft: A woman stole an antique rug worth $175 out of the Mercer Island Thrift Shop on S.E. 34th Street after 1:45 p.m. A security camera recorded the suspect walking out of the store with the rug.
Theft: A vehicle was stolen from a repair shop in the 2700 block of 80th Avenue S.E. sometime between May 2 and May 5. The keys had been left inside the vehicle, a Mercury Sable, while it was unlocked.
May 3
Theft: A bicycle worth $300 was stolen from the library between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
