A Mercedes-Benz crashed before 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8, in the 5000 block of West Mercer Way while racing two other vehicles. A large metal mailbox and wooden post, worth $200, were destroyed in the crash.
The 23-year-old driver, a Seattle resident, said his speed was 70 mph, but the passenger said 80-90 mph, according to the police report. The race participants, from the University District in Seattle, set up the race on a social media website. Police impounded the crashed vehicle and cited the driver on investigation of racing and malicious mischief. No injuries were reported.
April 9
Tree dispute: A 50-year-old man removed branches from several of his neighbors’ trees along their property line in the 6700 block of West Mercer Way. The suspect had asked to remove several trees and branches from his neighbors’ property, but they refused and did not give him permission. While the elderly couple was absent from their home, their neighbor removed branches from all the way around the trees, according to the police report. The damaged trees were fully on the victims’ side of the fenced yard.
April 26
Lost jewelry: A gold bracelet with diamonds was reported missing from a 66-year-old woman’s home in the 9200 block of S.E. 59th Street, in a neighborhood east of Island Crest Park.
Bike theft: A newly purchased bicycle worth $850, with a black carrying rack, was stolen sometime after April 22 in the 9000 block of West Shorewood Drive. The bike was kept in a storage unit in the basement of the victim’s apartment building.
Fraud: Someone used a 50-year-old Mercer Island woman’s Social Security number in an attempt to file for a tax refund from the IRS. An accountant notified the victim.
April 27
Liquor theft: A suspect identified as a 57-year-old Seattle woman stole a bottle of Jonny Walker liquor from the north QFC at 11 p.m. One witness present saw the woman hide the liquor and walk past manned, open registers without paying for it. She exited the store with a small shopping cart and a box containing a visible bottle. The witness had seen the suspect in the store the previous night. The suspect had two other warrants for her arrest.
April 29
Arrest: A Seattle man, 46, was arrested at 6:30 a.m. in the 3000 block of 65th Place S.E. for a $500 warrant and driving with a suspended license. He was booked into the King County Jail.
April 30
Fraud: An Amazon credit card was opened and closed in a 78-year-old Mercer Island man’s name, and Chase Bank notified the victim when it was closed. The victim, who did not apply for the credit card, will not be required to cover a $110.92 charge that was applied to the card.
Arrest: A 21-year-old Renton man was arrested on a court commitment at 10:10 a.m. for driving with a suspended license.
May 1
Criminal impersonation: A Verizon cellphone account was opened with a 41-year-old Mercer Island man’s identification information in mid-April.
An online federal tax return was filed through H&R Block after someone stole a 70-year-old Mercer Island man’s identity. The victim was notified by H&R Block that his taxes were filed and rejected for errors. The victim had already filed his taxes and had not used H&R Block. An unknown suspect was attempting to steal the victim’s tax refund.
Car prowl: Someone entered and rummaged through an unlocked vehicle at night in a South end neighborhood in the 6500 block of 80th Avenue S.E. No items were missing.
Malicious mischief: Northwest Yeshiva High School’s sport court fence was damaged after unknown high schoolers (non-NYHS) scaled the fence to play basketball inside the locked court numerous times. NYHS staff contacted four teenagers, 16 to 18 years old, inside the court and told them to leave. The incident is part of an ongoing problem. The damage is an estimated $500.
May 2
Car prowl: A security guard interrupted a car prowl before 1 a.m. on Shore Lane. The suspect fled on foot after entering an unlocked Audi SUV. A surveillance camera recorded the incident and revealed that two suspects came onto the property, but only one entered the vehicle.
Lost kayak: A kayak washed up against I-90, east of the midspan on the north side, at 10:30 a.m. A WSDOT bridge crew retrieved the kayak and turned it in to the MIPD, which checked the serial number and found that the kayak had not been reported missing or stolen.
Abandoned bike: A 59-year-old woman found a bicycle on her property in the 8300 block of S.E. 68th Street, west of Pioneer Park. Police placed the bike into MIPD found property.
May 3
Drugs: A Lexus with expired license tabs was pulled over at 8:02 p.m. in the 9600 block of S.E. 36th Street. Police detected an odor of fresh marijuana in the vehicle and observed the marijuana when the driver, an 18-year-old Mercer Island woman, opened her glove box to remove her vehicle registration. Police cited the driver, who turned in the marijuana and was released at the scene.
Burglary suspect search: Police assisted the King County Sheriff’s Office in locating a suspect vehicle related to an interrupted burglary. Police contacted the driver of the vehicle and obtained a written statement for KCSO at 12:54 p.m. in the 3000 block of Island Crest Way. The suspects have been identified as a 20-year-old Mercer Island man and 18-year-old Seattle man.
May 4
Bike theft: A combination road/mountain bike was stolen between 4:15 and 5 p.m. at Mercer Island High School in the 9100 block of S.E. 42nd Street. The bike’s owner, 18, had left the bike next to the concession and broadcast booth in the stadium.
May 5
Runaway: A 52-year-old Mercer Island woman reported that her daughter, 14, ran away. The girl was last seen on May 3 in the 3000 block of Island Crest Way.
Trespass: A drinking party was held in the basement of a couple’s home in the 4000 block of West Mercer Way. The couple’s grandson trespassed into their home and hosted the party. An unknown suspect took a lamb’s wool leather vest from the home. The grandson returned the vest. Police found evidence of the party along with an MIHS lacrosse jacket in the basement.
May 6
Car theft: A Nissan with a white canopy and #7 on its roof was stolen between 6:45 a.m. and 4:12 p.m. out of the Farmers Insurance lower parking lot in the 3000 block of 77th Avenue S.E.
May 7
Liquor violation: Someone reported a 19-year-old young man “acting belligerent” at 7:15 p.m. near the tennis courts in Homestead Park, in the 8000 block of S.E. 40th Street. Police responded to the scene and found the subject lying on the ground, having evidently consumed alcoholic beverages. An empty bottle of Monarch vodka was taken into evidence. The fire department transported the subject to Overlake Hospital.
