San Juan County Sheriff's Log

San Juan County Sheriff’s Department reported responding to these calls:

Sept. 9: The sound of gunfire prompted an investigation in the 3200 block of Buck Mountain Drive on Orcas Island.

Five people in two vehicles, including a husband and wife, were questioned about their involvement in the firing of guns in a heavily-wooded area on the south side of the road. They claim the area is commonly used for target practice, but agreed to notify others that it’s private property and permission is required if the activity is to continue.

Sept. 10: An Orcas Island woman’s car was impounded from the 2700 block of Deer Harbor Road following repeated complaints about it being a road hazard. She had failed to remove the car as promised.

It had been parked on the side of the road for more than 72 hours. The woman had told authorities she would see that it was promptly removed.

Sept. 11: An 18-year-old Lopez Island man is under investigation following allegations of harassing, threatening and stalking his ex-girlfriend.

The 16-year-old girl requested that a restraining order be put in place to prevent further harassment and his profanity-laced insults and threats. She claims during one incident he shoved her into the bushes.

Sept. 12: Two Orcas Island residents were cited for traffic offenses following a collision at the intersection of Double Hill and Orcas roads.

A 66-year-old woman was cited for parking her car on the road. The 58-year-old man who collided with a tree after hitting her from behind with his pickup was cited for following too closely. Neither reportedly were injured in the collision.

— Failure to use his turn signal led to the arrest of an Orcas Island man and an airplane ride to face misdemeanor charges in Anacortes.

The 37-year-old was stopped after failing to use his signal while turning right from Prune Alley onto Main Street. A records check revealed he was driving with a suspended license. A warrant had been issued in Anacortes for his arrest.

— Repeated phone calls to the home of a San Juan Island prompted a complaint against a woman in California for violating court orders.

Local authorities reportedly requested help of the Santa Barbara, Calif., Police Department in persuading the woman to stop the calls. The local woman asked that a copy of her complaint be sent to prosecutors.

— An Orcas Island man suffered minor cuts to his face after his vehicle plummeted down a 30-foot embankment near the 2100 block of Point Lawrence Road and collided with a tree.

The 26-year-old claims he lost control of his pickup when he swerved to avoid a deer.

Sept. 13: A Mount Vernon man arrived at the Sheriff’s Office complaining of feeling ill and was subsequently arrested on a warrant for possession of stolen property.

Issued in Skagit County, the felony warrant was uncovered while the 53-year-old was treated by paramedics. He was taken into custody pending transfer to the neighboring county.

Sept. 14: A Lopez Island man was cited for driving with his wheels off the road after colliding with an embankment on Point Lawrence near Olga on Orcas Island.

The 34-year-old claims a momentary lapse of attention caused him to lose control of the car. Investigation determined excessive speed was not a factor.

— A San Juan Island woman was issued a warning letter despite her assertions that a neighbor had no cause to be frightened of her dog because of its size.

Though the Australian Shepherd may be small, the 67-year-old neighbor claims it came onto his property and tried to bite his leg.

Sept. 15: The investigation of a fatal collision on Bailer Hill Road reveals an 18-year-old bicyclist landed on the hood of the car that hit him from behind and collided with the windshield before he was thrown into a ditch by the impact.

The driver and three passengers left the scene of the crash. The victim died the following morning in a hospital in Seattle. Two passengers returned to the scene shortly after the collision and told authorities no one saw what the car had struck because of glare from the setting sun.

The driver, a 21-year-old San Juan Island woman, has been charged with felony hit-and-run and vehicular homicide.

Sept. 16: Computer equipment disappeared from Orcas Island High School following an apparent burglary in the school’s computer room.

School officials estimate about $2,675 of equipment is missing. Though investigation revealed no signs of forced entry into the school, the clasp on a locked cabinet door had been bent.

— Intoxicated and covered in blood, a San Juan Island man was arrested in the parking lot of a Friday Harbor convenience store on several alcohol-related offenses.

The 27-year-old reportedly punched a glass picture frame at home and walked across its broken pieces before driving to the store, where his request to buy beer was refused. Two bystanders prevented him from leaving and he was subsequently arrested for DUI and violating conditions of his release pending sentencing on a previous conviction of DUI and alcohol-related assault.

He was held in protective custody following the arrest because of several suicide threats.

Sept. 18: Two Orcas Island women discovered their bank accounts were used to purchase pornography over the Internet, following investigation of alleged mail theft at a local quilting company.

The company owner notified authorities when bank checks of three customers, all of whom sent payment via U.S. mail, remained unaccounted for after three months. She suspects the checks were stolen when the post office box was somehow pilfered.

— Scott Rasmussen

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