University Place Blotter: Woman Attacked for Purse, Auto Theft Thwarted

APRIL 17, 2013

Hit and Run: UP Police were contacted by a resident on 54th Ave. Ct. W., who said his son was hit by a car while crossing the street, and that the car fled the scene. His son was walking westbound on Cirque Dr. W. and was crossing Bridgeport Way W. in the marked crosswalk when he was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound on Bridgeport, after turning north from Cirque. He told police that the driver motioned for his son to cross, then drove forward and struck him in the left leg. The victim could only describe the car as a sedan. He had a bruised knee but didn’t require medical attention. 

APRIL 19, 2013

Assault, Attempted Purse Snatching: An officer responded to St. Clare Hospital regarding an aggravated assault at approximately 12:47 a.m. The female victim said she was walking home to the Corey Mobile Home Park from the 7-11 on South Orchard and took the trail, which runs along the south side of the Shell Station to Hannah Pierce Road West. She heard voices and didn’t think anything of it, until she felt something hit her in the head and she fell to the ground. She was also kicked in the head. She said she felt someone trying to take her purse off her shoulder and saw two men standing above her, before she lost consciousness. The victim was able to hold on to her purse and the suspects fled. She called her boyfriend and he took her to the hospital, where she had to receive staples in her head from the assault.

The suspects are described as two black males, one tall and thin, the other normal height and build. 

Trespassing, Failure to Register as Sex Offender: A UP police officer responded to Albertson’s just after 6 p.m. for a report of a suspicious person causing a disturbance in the store. When the officer arrived, the suspect had already left the area. The officer then got a call from an off-duty officer, who said there was a suspicious person walking around backyards in his neighborhood. The off-duty officer attempted to approach the suspect, who took off running to the wooded area near the 3400 block of Morrison Rd. He was captured by officers in a yard on 71st Ave. Ct. W.

The man told officers he was just “cutting through” the yards on a shortcut from Albertsons. The man smelled of intoxicants and had a confirmed felony warrant for escape from custody and failing to register as a sex offender. 

DUI Collision: Officers responded to a one-car collision on the 3900 block of Grandview Drive West at approximately 1:48 a.m. The car was flipped upside down, on its roof. The driver was uninjured and outside of the vehicle. He told police that he had just dropped off his babysitter and was heading home when he got in the accident. He smelled of intoxicants and admitted to having a pitcher of beer at a UP bar. The officer believes the driver went through the roundabout at Grandview Drive W. and Olympic Boulevard W., took out a one-way sign and collided into the rock wall, flipping his vehicle over. He was arrested for DUI. 

Attempted Car Theft: A resident on 66th Ave. W. called 911 to report a car theft in progress. She said that a man was breaking into a Mustang parked outside her house with a slimjim and was attempting to hotwire it. She said that the suspect had knocked on her door prior and asked if the Mustang belonged to her.

Police detained the man, who first tried to run away from officers. He said that he was there to help his friend move his broke down car, that the car was unlocked and he popped the hood because he just wanted to see why the car was broken down. After a lengthy interrogation with many excuses, he admitted that his “friend” turned cars for a profit and he was going to bring the Mustang to him. He admitted to using methamphetamine earlier in the day and officers recovered a small amount of the drug from a baggie in his pocket, plus a number of controlled substance pills. He also had two blank DOL release of interest/power of attorney forms in his pocket, which were already notarized and appeared to be forged to transfer ownership of the Mustang after it was stolen. He was arrested for attempted motor vehicle theft, possession of auto theft tools, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of a Legend drug without a prescription.

APRIL 20, 2013

Suspicious Fire: Transients are believed to have set a fire in an abandoned, city-owned building with a camping stove. Read more on Patch.  

APRIL 22, 2013

Strong Arm Robbery: UP Police responded to a report of strong armed robbery at Fred Meyer. A jewelry department employee told police that a man came in and said he wanted to get his girlfriend a gift. He asked to see a gold and diamond bracelet from behind the glass display. The employee took it out and modeled it for him, when the suspect grabbed it from her wrist. The bracelet was worth over $5,000. The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 29 years old. 

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