As a 41-year-old postal carrier was leaving a temporary parking spot, she drove over a curb and struck a parked SUV at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 5, in the 3200 block of 80th Avenue S.E. A witness stated that the postal carrier was talking on her cell phone, at her ear, when she started the postal truck and drove forward. The postal carrier, however, denied using her cell phone, saying that she called her supervisor after the collision. She offered to let the police officer check her call times, but then claimed that her phone “sometimes loses information” and a list of her calls had in some way disappeared, according to the case report. The driver said that while her foot was on the brake, her vehicle went forward when she put it into drive.
Aug. 30
Pedestrian hit: A 21-year-old woman in a crosswalk was struck by a vehicle at 5:42 p.m. in the intersection of 81st Avenue S.E. and S.E. 24th Street. The driver, 56, was cited for failing to yield to the pedestrian. He said that the accident happened when he was blinded by the sun. The woman, who was in the middle of the crosswalk, landed on the hood of the car. She sustained cuts and bruises. One witness was present.
Aug. 31
Backpack theft: Someone stole a 17-year-old student’s backpack out of the commons area during a school assembly at Mercer Island High School at 9100 S.E. 42nd Street. The school requests that students leave their belongings in the commons during assemblies. The backpack contained textbooks, school supplies, a wallet and driver’s license, $60 in cash, keys and a sweatshirt.
Sept. 4
Construction fraud: A 43-year-old Mercer Island woman reported that she paid $15,000 to an Ocean Shores contractor who signed a contract to remodel her home in June. She then discovered that the business license of the company, DB Construction, had been suspended. When she canceled her contract and demanded the money back, she received only $2,600. One suspect then died, and the victim has not been able to recover the remaining money.
Sept. 5
Fender-bender: A vehicle rear-ended a BMW at 2:17 p.m. in the 8800 block of S.E. 40th Street. The 20-year-old driver was cited for inattention, as he was distracted by tending to his dogs inside his vehicle before striking the BMW. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. The 16-year-old driver of the BMW reported neck pain but declined medical aid.
Car keyed: Someone keyed the front panel and driver’s door of a Toyota Sequoia between 3 and 5:45 p.m.in the lower level of the North Mercer Park and Ride. The damage was estimated at $500.
Fraud: Someone placed nearly $1,837 worth of fraudulent charges on a Mercer Island man’s credit cards in two separate transactions. The victim was in possession of both cards when the fraud occurred after Aug. 18.
Mirrors scrape: Two vehicles scraped driver’s side mirrors on a curve in the 4200 block of West Mercer Way at 6:13 p.m. The 81-year-old driver of the first vehicle, a Lexus, was cited for driving with a suspended license and without vehicle insurance. The second vehicle’s mirror and door were damaged.
Sept. 6
Pile-up: A vehicle caused a four-car pile-up at 12:17 p.m. in the 4500 block of Island Crest Way after rear-ending a Porsche stopped for traffic and pushing it into two other vehicles. The 67-year-old driver said he didn’t know what happened “but thought that the sun was in his eyes,” according to the case report, and he was cited for inattention. He was treated at the scene, and the driver of the Porsche was taken to a hospital. Two of the vehicles were towed from the scene.
Sept. 7
Garden tools theft: Gardening tools were stolen out of a 30-year-old woman’s front yard in the 3400 block of 79th Avenue S.E. between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m. She had left the tools — branch cutters and pruning sheers — at the edge of her yard, along the sidewalk.
DUI: Police stopped a vehicle with a nonfunctioning headlight in the 7400 block of S.E. 24th Street and arrested the 17-year-old driver for DUI at 11:55 p.m. The driver had been drinking and his speech was slurred. He failed field sobriety tests and was released to his parents after being processed at the MIPD.
Sept. 9
DUI: Police stopped a vehicle for a lane travel violation at 2:57 a.m. in the 5800 block of West Mercer Way and arrested the driver, a 31-year-old man, who had been drinking. He denied any consumption of alcohol, but failed field sobriety tests. He was processed at the MIPD and his father picked him up.
Fence hit: A 15-year-old girl without a driver’s permit struck and damaged the metal fence between the high school parking lot and field in the 8800 block of S.E. 42nd Street while her father, the passenger, was teaching her how to drive. She pressed the accelerator instead of the brake while trying to park and drove into the fence, and bent the fence poles. The vehicle’s front corners were also damaged.
Sept. 11
Abandoned vehicle: Police impounded an abandoned Toyota Corolla at 9:14 a.m. for parking in excess of 72 hours in the 3700 block of 77th Place S.E.
Sept. 12
Vehicle recovered: Police recovered a stolen vehicle, a Ford Econoline, abandoned in the 2200 block of West Mercer Way. The vehicle was stolen in Seattle. Police returned the vehicle to its owner.
Keys found: A 65-year-old woman reported that her husband found a key ring on a trail in Pioneer Park while taking a walk at 3 p.m. in the 9200 block of S.E. 68th Street. The key ring was taken into found property at the MIPD.
Arrest: Police arrested a 46-year-old man at 7:27 p.m. in the 7700 block of westbound I-90 after discovering the driver’s suspended driving status and warrants through a routine license plate check. Police contacted the driver on a north shoulder of the freeway, attempting to fix his broken-down truck. He was transferred into the custody of Des Moines police for a $5,050 domestic violence assault warrant.
Sept. 13
Car prowl: Someone used an unknown object to shatter the front passenger window of a Jeep at Luther Burbank Park between 7 and 7:45 p.m. in the 2000 block of 84th Avenue S.E. The suspect stole a Dell laptop, purse and tote bag out of the vehicle.
Alcohol theft: A man stole a liter of vodka from Albertsons at 7:15 p.m. in the 2700 block of 77th Avenue S.E. One witness was present. The suspect was described as tall and slender with an afro, unshaven, approximately 40 years old, and wearing a white sweater and black pants. He fled on foot to a blue Toyota pickup waiting in the QFC parking lot. The loss was $33.
Sept. 14
Accident: A Cadillac sedan T-boned a compact Honda SUV at 8:01 a.m. in an intersection without stop signs, at S.E. 43rd Street and 91st Avenue S.E. The 48-year-old driver of the sedan, who said she did not see the other vehicle, was cited for inattention. A passenger reported back pain, but no other injuries were stated. The Honda was towed.
Sept. 15
Arrest: Police stopped a vehicle with expired tabs in the 8900 block of S.E. 40th Street and arrested the 21-year-old driver at 1:48 a.m. She was driving with a suspended license and had a $1,000 outstanding Ellensburg warrant. She was cited for the traffic offenses and was booked into the King County Jail.
Reckless burning: A 24-year-old man witnessed a group of teenagers start a small fire at 4:15 p.m. behind a building in the 3200 block of 77th Avenue S.E. The group left the fire to burn when the witness approached them. Police later contacted four suspects, who admitted starting the fire and claimed that it was “just for fun” with no intent to cause damage, according to the case report.
Sept. 16
DUI: Police stopped a vehicle speeding 58 mph in a 30-mph zone at 1:30 a.m. and arrested a 32-year-old man in the 7300 block of westbound I-90. The driver had been drinking. He vomited and passed out at the police department. He did not regain consciousness, and he was taken to a hospital for a blood draw.
Bike accident: A 15-year-old bicyclist struck a vehicle at 11 a.m. in the intersection of Mercerwood Drive and 97th Avenue S.E. The bicyclist was riding downhill in the marked bike lane as the vehicle was pulling away from the stop sign, into the intersection. The bicyclist sustained bruises and scratches.
