University Place Blotter: Man Robbed of Pills During Suspected Drug Deal, Theft from Locker Leaves Gym Member Without a Ride

APRIL 26, 2013

Vehicle Prowl: Just before 2 p.m., a city worker doing maintenance on a roundabout in the 5500 block of Grandview Drive W. reported to police that he saw a female prowling cars on the street. Police did a search of the area and found her nearby in the north parking lot of the Chambers Bay Golf Course. When police approached her, she placed a large purse in the trunk of her vehicle and a black BB gun was visible to officers. She also had BB rounds in her pocket. Based on her “twitching” and speech, the officer believed she was under the influence of methamphetamine.

The reporting officer noted that UP Police have responded to dozens of car prowls in that parking lot over the last two years and all of the crimes have a common theme: the car windows were completely smashed out. A BB gun or window punch usually leaves nothing left on a car window. The woman was arrested for possession of burglary tools and car prowling. She grew upset with the officer and blamed him for not being able to pick up her child at a school bus stop.

APRIL 28, 2013

Armed Robbery: A man reported to police that his prescription Percocet was stolen from him at gunpoint a few days prior. He said the reason he delayed in reporting the incident was because he wanted to “take care of it himself.” He told police he was walking to a tire shop on Bridgeport Way about 10 p.m. to meet a man he "smokes weed with." He told police that he was meeting the man to give him medicinal marijuana he purchased with a prescription. As the man approached the intersection, he saw an unknown male carjacking a friend of his, who was parked nearby. When he walked over to see what was going on, he was pistol-whipped and the pills were stolen, which were inexplicably in his pocket. He said his friend took him to St. Clare Hospital, where he was treated for a laceration on the top of his head. During his interview with police, his story changed multiple times and he continually denied that he sold illicit drugs. The man said he feared for his life, but declined to finish a written statement of the events or have photographs taken of his injuries. Police told him to contact them if he could provide any additional information.

Liquor Theft: The owner of Harbor Greens called UP Police to report a man who hid several bottles of liquor under his sweatshirt and left without paying. An employee identified the suspect as a former classmate at Curtis High School. With that tip, police went to his most recent address, but found that he doesn’t live there anymore. The suspect's whereabouts are unknown.

Car Prowl: A car was prowled in the parking lot at Curtis Junior High School between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The drivers side car door lock had been “punched” and an iPad and purse were stolen. The purse contained approximately $1,500 in gift cards.

APRIL 29, 2013

Theft: Police responded to Vision Quest regarding a theft from the locker room. A man reported that while he was working out, someone cut the small brass padlock off his locker and replaced it with another padlock, which had to be cut off by a gym employee. His credit cards, drivers license, car keys, bus card, money and backpack were all stolen from the locker and he had no way to get home and no one he could call. The officer gave him a ride.

April 30, 2013

Alcohol Theft: Officers were dispatched to Albertsons for theft of alcohol in progress, after a man was seen putting bottles of liquor inside his coat and leaving without paying. Police tracked the suspect, who fled in a vehicle and was in a nearby parking lot, with two passengers. There were three bottles of alcohol on top of a pile of clothes in the backseat, with the white security caps still attached. The suspect is believed to have been responsible for a previous liquor theft at the store. His passenger gave police a false name and was arrested for an outstanding warrant.

Theft from Storage Unit: A Public Storage renter reported to police that his unit had been burglarized and half of his items had been taken.

MAY 1, 2013

Fraud: UP Police were contacted by a recent car prowl victim from Tacoma. The victim told police that her stolen credit cards had been used at the University Place Radio Shack, and they had video surveillance of the transaction. The suspect made three transactions at the store, totaling over $300. The manager told police that the suspect had used the victim’s debit and credit card as identification, and the employee did not ask for a photo ID or third identifier. She said the employee has been reprimanded for failing to follow store policy. The suspect is described as a white female, about 5 foot 9 inches and 185 pounds with blond hair.