All persons named in the police blotter are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Assault:
On May 6, an officer was dispatched to the lobby of the Sumner Police Department to contact an individual who reported he had been hit in the head with a pool cue by his buddy at the bar. Immediately upon arrival, the officer noticed that the subject was covered in what appeared to be dry blood and the top of his head was dressed with bandages. The victim stated he was playing pool with his friend and an argument they were having became heated. The victim advised that he splashed his beer in his friend’s face and the suspect responded by hitting him in the head with the pool cue and that his head was split open as a result. Nobody called the police at the time but somebody did call the adult victim’s mother to come and pick him up. Days later, the suspect came in to the police station to give a statement. The suspect gave the same story as the victim and said that he felt badly about what happened. The suspect was advised that he would not be booked into jail but that the Pierce County Prosecutor’s office may be sending him a summons in the mail.
Theft, and Hit and Run:
On May 8, at 11:13 p.m. officers were dispatched to the 1100 block of Valley Ave. for a report of a male who refused to pay a taxi fare, exited the taxi and entered another vehicle which collided with the taxi before fleeing the scene. As the officer approached the scene, a vehicle cut him off, running a red light and nearly colliding into the front end of the patrol car. That vehicle turned out to be the same vehicle that rear ended the taxi and left the scene. The officer then performed a traffic stop and the vehicle pulled to the side of the road. The driver immediately told the officer that he had not been driving even though he was the only person in the car. The officer asked the subject to exit the vehicle to which he replied several more times that he was not driving the vehicle but did exit the vehicle stumbling slightly as he walked. His eyes were watery and bloodshot and he slurred his words as he spoke. The arrestee refused to do any field sobriety tests and was arrested for DUI. The victim arrived at the scene and advised that the man in custody was the one who refused to pay his taxi fare and committed the Hit and Run. The arrestee used a racial term referring to the driver of the taxi on many occasions during the contact with the officer. The arrestee was booked into Puyallup Jail for DUI , Hit and Run, and Theft.
Reckless Endangerment:
On May 12, officers were dispatched to the 15000 block of Main St. for a report of a disorderly subject. The female subject was highly intoxicated, fighting with others and was associated with a vehicle which she was trying to drive away with two young children inside. When officers arrived one stayed with the children while the other dealt with the disorderly subject. Witnesses advised that the 8 year old girl walked up to a total stranger and told them that her mother was drunk and she didn’t feel safe. When officers arrived she also grabbed the arm of the officer and asked him “Will you please take me home? Get me out of here, I don’t feel safe”. When the citizen contacted the subject to find out what was going on the disorderly subject became belligerent. The female entered the vehicle with her children and looked as if she would drive off, so the citizen and another bystander intervened to keep the disorderly subject from driving. Witnesses advised that they did see her arrive driving the vehicle with the two young children inside about one hour prior. The subject was advised she was under arrest for DUI and Disorderly Conduct and she was agitated and demanded to know why. The officer explained it all to her, and she replied “I am only a couple of blocks from my house.” A friend was called to the scene to pick up the two children. The subject agreed to perform the field sobriety tests and was booked into Puyallup Jail for DUI, Reckless Endangerment and Disorderly Conduct.
