MIFD responds to six small fires over holiday weekend | Police Blotter

Published 2:53 pm Tuesday, July 7, 2015

July 4 weekend

The Mercer Island Fire Department (MIFD) responded to three small brush fires and three bark fires on July 4. The majority of these were fireworks related, according to Fire Chief Steve Heitman.

“We had zero EMS incidents related to fireworks,” Heitman said.

June 19

Burglary: MIPD responded to a report of a rear door of a business being forced open with a pry tool. A laptop and real estate access key were stolen from inside, for a loss of $500, and causing $600 in damage.

June 20

Theft: A 45-year-old Island man at the 2800 block of 78th Avenue S.E. reported that his gray Scott bicycle was stolen overnight, for a loss of $400.

Theft: Two bicycles belonging to a 49-year-old Island man were stolen from the parking garage of the 77 Central Apartments at the 2600 block of 77th Avenue S.E., for a loss of $2,300.

Informational report: Two separated spouses—a 41-year-old Island man and 49-year-old Seattle woman —were pushing against each other and arguing over property at the 9000 block of S.E. 50th Street. There were no visible injuries. Both declined aid and were provided with DV packets.

June 21

Traffic offense: A 19-year-old Seattle man was arrested at the 5000 block of Island Crest Way on suspicion of driving without a license. He had been stopped for having one functioning brake light.

Informational report: A bicyclist riding on a sidewalk at the 7600 block of North Mercer Way possibly hit a root bump in the pavement, causing her to lose control of her bike and crash into a fence and tree. The 28-year-old Seattle woman was checked out by the aid unit and released.

Theft: A 56-year-old man reported that his son had his locked BMX bicycle stolen from the secure parking garage area of the Mercer Apartments at the 7600 block of S.E. 27th Street.

June 22

Malicious mischief: A 70-year-old Issaquah woman reported that her car was keyed at the Roanoke Inn, causing $2,500 in damage.

Collision: Two vehicles collided at the 4400 block of Island Crest Way. One driver said he was northbound in heavy traffic and had to slow down to a stop going up the hill and the other vehicle drove up and hit him from behind. The other driver said that he didn’t stop in time.

Fraud: A 71-year-old man, who lives on Brook Bay Road but was in Chelan, Wash. at the time of the report, said that his credit card information was used to make an unauthorized purchase in California.

Informational report: Post office personnel noticed a cracked window pane in front of the post office at the 3000 block of 78th Avenue S.E.

Mental: A 16-year-old Island female wrote a possibly threatening essay at Crest Learning Center.

Reckless burning: The fire department responded to a campfire on the sidewalk at Islander Middle School. There was no damage to the school, and no suspects. The school district was notified.

Suspicious circumstance: A 53-year-old Island man said that when he left for work, the lights upstairs in the house he is renting at the 2400 block of 74th Avenue S.E. were off, and when he returned, they were on. There were no signs of forced entry.

June 23

Burglary: A 52-year-old man said that someone unlawfully entered his garage at the 2900 block of 72nd Avenue S.E. and stole three expensive mountain bikes. There were no signs of forced entry.

Theft: A 64-year-old man said that 101-ounce silver bars and Canadian Maple Leaf $50 coins were stolen from his bank safe deposit box at the 2700 block of 77th Avenue S.E.

Burglary: A 61-year-old Island woman said her unlocked garage at the 2900 block of 72nd Avenue S.E. was unlawfully entered and items were moved around, but nothing was reported missing.

Prowling: A 59-year-old Island man left his laptop in his unlocked car for 20 minutes at the 7600 block of S.E. 27th Street, and came back to find his laptop gone and his trunk ajar.

June 24

Fraud: A 49-year-old Island man at the 8400 block of S.E. 47th Street was notified by a CPA that his tax return was denied, as a refund had already been processed under his name.

Fraud: A 61-year-old Island woman at the 7200 block of 87th Avenue S.E. said that someone used her debit/credit card information to pay $69 to a fraudulent site for a U.S. passport renewal.

Crime statistics for June

Every month, the Police Department calculates crime statistics and compares them to numbers from the year prior. In June of this year, there were 80 serious offenses, compared to 72 in 2014.

The department had three fewer cases of theft but two more burglary cases and 14 more cases of theft than in 2014. Police also reported one case of rape in June 2015.

This year, there were 15 adult arrests and zero juvenile arrests. Police arrested 16 adults and zero juveniles last June.

There were 1,901 calls for service this year, compared to 2,010 in 2014.