An unknown vehicle struck a City of Mercer Island power junction and irrigation box, tearing it from its base, in a center median in front of the Jacksons Shell gas station in the 2900 block of 78th Avenue S.E. sometime Friday morning, Feb. 8. A broken, plastic Ford headlamp lens fell off of the unknown vehicle at the scene.
No businesses were affected by the damage, according to city maintenance director Glenn Boettcher.
“The purpose of the box is twofold,” he said. “It controls both irrigation and electric outlets in the median in that area. The outlets are used for things like the holiday lights on the trees in the median.”
The total damage was $10,000. Repairs are scheduled to begin next week and a new box is expected to arrive at the end of the month.
Feb. 3
Arrest: Police took custody of a 44-year-old suspect at the SCORE Jail and booked him into the Issaquah Jail on a local misdemeanor warrant.
Feb. 4
Bike theft: A boy’s Trek bicycle was stolen from school property in the 4000 block of 82nd Avenue S.E. sometime between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The boy had ridden his bike to school and left it in some bushes. The wheels had a cable lock.
Fender-bender: A Lexus rear-ended a pickup truck and pushed it into another vehicle while waiting at a red light at the intersection of Island Crest Way and S.E. 27th Street at 3:40 p.m. The 61-year-old driver of the Lexus said that his foot slipped and struck the accelerator when he looked into his backseat. Police cited the driver for inattention. No injuries were reported.
Feb. 5
Embezzlement: A 55-year-old woman with power of attorney embezzled her mother, a Covenant Shores resident, out of $166,000 in December 2012. The victim transferred power of attorney to her son, 58, after her daughter, the suspect, refused to disclose the status of the victim’s financial accounts. The victim and her son found that the suspect had written an undated check to herself, transferring all of the victim’s money from a BECU account into the suspect’s Wells Fargo account. Only $100 remained in the victim’s account. BECU refused to provide bank statement copies to the victim.
Feb. 6
Rollover: A BMW rolled over at 8:35 p.m. in the 7600 block of S.E. 22nd Street. The 19-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle on a curve, and it crashed upside down into an unoccupied van in a private driveway. The vehicle had been traveling too fast for the wet road conditions. The driver was not injured and was cited for driving too fast for conditions. His vehicle was towed from the scene.
Bike accident: A vehicle struck a boy riding his bike in a crosswalk at Island Park Elementary at 4:20 p.m. The boy, between 12 and 14 years of age, did not activate the pedestrian crossing lights when he entered the crosswalk. His friend, riding behind him, stopped when he saw the southbound car approaching in the 5400 block of Island Crest Way. The victim received aid at the scene and was taken to Harborview hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Feb. 7
Arrest: Police stopped a vehicle registered to a suspended owner at 2:16 a.m. in the 3500 block of East Mercer Way. The driver, a 26-year-old Lakewood woman, gave a false name to police and was arrested on a outstanding warrant. Police recognized the passenger, a 24-year-old Mercer Island man, from prior contacts and arrested him on an outstanding warrant. The vehicle was impounded.
Feb. 8
Liquor theft: The north QFC manager recognized a female theft suspect at 10:25 p.m. after a loss prevention briefing. A surveillance video showed the suspect stealing alcohol, and the woman was seen climbing into the passenger seat of a Mercedes-Benz. The vehicle license plate was obtained and the registered owner has been identified. Nine bottles of alcohol worth $316.91 altogether were stolen.
Sink theft: An outdoor, stainless steel mobile cart with a sink was stolen sometime overnight in the 2400 block of 76th Avenue S.E. The total loss was $1,500.
