EVEN LATER FOR SWIMMING NOW: An officer on July 29 was on routine patrol in the Sky Island neighborhood in an unmarked car when he observed a second car traveling in his direction at a high rate of speed. The car passed a pickup truck in a no-passing zone before it came up behind the officer, who was driving the 25 mph speed limit. According to the report, the car continued behind him at an “unsafe distance” and, on at least three occasions, jerked across a double yellow line into the oncoming lane, as if looking for an opportunity to pass. While in the 11600 block of McCutcheon Road, the vehicle pulled out and passed the officer while in a no passing zone and then cut back in front of the officer, nearly hitting the officer’s car before accelerating to more than 60 mph in a 25 mph zone. The driver pulled over and explained he was speeding because he was an hour late to pick up friends to go swimming. The driver was cited for reckless driving and released.
TASER AND PEPPER SPRAY: Officers on July 29 were dispatched to the 19600 block of 94th Street East for a neighborhood dispute. Upon arrival, the reporting party told police a neighbor had been acting bizarre lately and had spit on the reporting party. Police attempted to contact the suspect and were greeted at the door by the suspect’s mother, though the suspect stood directly behind her wearing only a pair of underwear while yelling epithets; he flicked a cigarette at one of the officers and then spit at them. Police told the mother to step aside and she refused, slamming and locking the door. Through the window, the mother pointed for police to leave, but eventually opened the door. She was uncooperative and did not want the officers to talk with the suspect, who continued swearing at the police and saying how much he hates cops. The mother was physically moved and while the officers waited for a sergeant, the suspect repeatedly opened the door and told one of the officers “I’m going to kill you.” The suspect raised his arms with clenched fists and spit at the officer again. The officer activated his Taser and the suspect fell to the floor but continued to resist; it took two more Taser applications before the suspect complied and was able to be cuffed. As he was being read his rights, the suspect began to yell again and spit at the officers again. As the officers tried to regain control, the suspect continued to thrash and one of the officers sprayed him in the eyes with pepper spray and the suspect immediately complied. He was transported to Pierce County jail and charged with third-degree assault, disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer. He had to be physically removed and carried into the jail. The mother was cited and released on obstruction charges.
DUI: Police on patrol July 31 pulled over a car after watching the driver leave a parking lot at a high rate of speed, sliding sideways and nearly crashing. When pulled over, the driver appeared intoxicated and admitted to drinking and said he was in a hurry. The driver was asked to perform several field sobriety tests, culminating in a portable breath test in which the driver blew a 0.126, far in excess of the legal limit. He was transported to the Buckley jail and booked for driving under the influence.
DISTURBANCE: Police in the early evening of July 30 were flagged down by multiple people regarding two males who were causing a disturbance, including making threats. Police contacted the suspects and located a large pocket knife and a marijuana pipe in the pocket of one of the suspects. He was cited for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and released.
DUI IS NOT COOL: Police on patrol Aug. 1 witnessed a vehicle swerving in its lane and crossing the fog line and pulled it over on state Route 410. Upon contact, the driver smelled of alcohol and appeared intoxicated. The driver said she was not used to the truck, which was why she was swerving. The officer performed several field sobriety tests and during the tests, the driver repeatedly stated “This is really not cool.” The driver failed the tests and refused a breath test. She was arrested and transported to Buckley jail where she was booked on charges of driving under the influence and blew a breath test of more than twice the legal limit.
SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE PURSUIT: Officers on patrol spotted a suspicious vehicle at the JB Mart and attempted to pull behind it when the vehicle accelerated rapidly, kicking gravel on to the hood of the police car. The truck took off down Sumner-Bickley Highway at speeds of approximately 60 mph, often driving in the oncoming lane and failing to stop at lights. The truck turned on to Church Lake Road East, narrowly missing an oncoming vehicle and maintained its speed and driving in oncoming lanes. Due to the narrow roads, police were unable to attempt a PIT maneuver until it turned onto Evergreen Road East, at which point the officer used his vehicle to force the other truck to stop, causing significant damage to his patrol car. In total, the chase had gone for 2.3 miles, lasted four minutes and the vehicle failed to stop at one light and six stop signs. After the impact, the driver of the truck exited the vehicle and took off running, jumping fences and going through backyards. A K-9 unit from the Pierce County Sheriffs Office was called in to assist in a search. The suspect was eventually tracked down in the 7900 block of 192nd Avenue East. When contacted he was found with methamphetermine in his pocket as well as an identification card that was not him. When asked why he ran from the police, the suspect said he had points on his license and “You probably would have said the truck was stolen.” A gun and a methamphtermine pipe were found in the vehicle. He was transported to Pierce County Jail and booked on charges of eluding, possession of a stolen vehicle, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and driving with a suspended license.
NO FREE RIDES: Police on Aug. 4 were dispatched to state Route 410 for a report of a disorderly passenger refusing to pay a $69 cab fare from Kent. Upon contact, the suspect appeared under the influence of a narcotic and was nervous and sweating. He admitted to using narcotics earlier in the day. The officers determined the suspect never intended to pay for the cab ride. The suspect was searched prior to arrest and a baggie of methamphetermine was found in his pocket. The suspect was transported to the Buckley jail and booked on charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and theft.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY: An officer patroling the Aug. 4 Tunes at Tapps concert at Allan Yorke Park was contacted about a juvenile male dancing wildly and falling over people in the crowd. As the officer approached, the suspect began to walk away and the officer ordered him to stop, he ran off and police lost sight of him. As the officer returned, a city employee informed him that a person matching the description of the male that ran off was re-rentering the park and headed toward a trail in the woods. Police caught up with the suspect and placed him under arrest. As he was being placed in handcuffs the suspect struggled and thrashed around, swearing at the officer. In the back of the patrol car the suspect started banging his head on the partition and kicking at the windows. Officers did not notice any smell of intoxicants. He was transported to Remann Hall and booked for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was also permanently trespassed from Allan Yorke Park.
MALICIOUS MISCHIEF: Police on July 27 were dispatched to the 6700 block of 193rd Avenue for a report of a flat tire. The reporting party had two tires slashed earlier this month. A check at Les Schwab revealed five puncture marks in the tire. Police are investigating.
DAMAGED MAILBOXES: Police are investigating a report of malicious mischief in the 9900 block of 197th Avenue East involving mailboxes that had been hit and knocked over by a car. Vehicle information matched that of an earlier hit-and-run.
PROWL: Police on July 28 were contacted by a resident in the lobby of the Public Safety Building about her vehicle being prowled while parked at Allan Yorke Park. A iPod, a tape adaptor, cigarettes and a lighter were taken.
VANDALISM AND PROWL: Police were dispatched to the 4900 block of 197th Avenue East for a report of a vehicle prowl in which a window was broken and several items were taken, including a camera and lenses valued at more than $1200 and a GPS device valued at $80. Police are investigating.
DEFLATED: Police on Aug. 1 were dispatched to the 6700 block of 193rd Avenue East for a report of the air being let out of the tires of a resident’s car. This is the third time in the past three months it has happened, though it is the first time he contacted the police. Several days earlier, a similar report came in from a neighbor. Police are investigating.
NOT IN PUBLIC: Police on patrol Aug. 1 saw a male urinating on the side of state Route 410 next to a vehicle and pulled in front of the vehicle. The suspect admitted to urinating and was cited for public urination. The driver of the vehicle was cited for expired tabs.
MISCHIEF: Police on Aug. 3 were dispatched to the Sumner School District transportation garage where an unknown suspect had discharged three fire extinguishers inside three buses and discarded the extinguishers over a fence. Police are investigating.
