Crime & Safety

University Place Police: Grandma Assaulted for Purse, Teens Steal Liquor to Resell

The following arrest and crime information has been supplied by the University Place Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.

MAY 16, 2013

Strongarm Purse Snatching: At 5:38 p.m. police responded to a strong-arm robbery at the 7-11 on South Orchard Street W. The victim said she was getting Slurpees with her three young grandchildren when an unknown man approached her in the parking lot, grabbed the back of her shirt and stole her purse. Another citizen chased after the suspect and somehow her purse was returned to the store. During the incident, her 8-year-old granddaughter was pushed to the ground. It was a busy area in the middle of rush hour so police were unable to track down the suspect.

The suspect is described as a black male in his 20s, about 5 foot 9 inches tall with a thin build, wearing a black coat with a furry hood and dark pants.

Car Prowls: At 9:19 p.m. a victim reported that his car passenger window was smashed out and a briefcase stolen while he worked out at Vision Quest.  At 9:47 p.m., another car prowl victim at the same location reported that her drivers side window was broken out and a wallet was stolen from the center console. A backpack was also stolen from the front passenger seat.        

MAY 18, 2013

Theft: An officer responded to the UP Library at 1:55 p.m. for a report of theft. The victim said she left her Nintendo DSI in the women’s restroom and returned several minutes later to find it missing. She said game console was a birthday gift from five years ago.

MAY 19, 2013

Liquor Theft, Assault of Police Officer: At 2:36 a.m., UP officers responded to Safeway regarding liquor theft. They located the suspect walking down 40th St. W. with another male. Both ignored police commands to stop. An officer grabbed one suspect and the other fled westbound down the street. The young man struggled against the officer and threw a punch at him, managing to get away by wiggling out of his backpack and sweatshirt. He fled in the same direction as his friend. Inside the backpack, officers found two bottles vodka with the security devices still attached.

Police set up a K-9 perimeter and a WSP Trooper stopped a third accomplice located inside the Safeway store. The young man said he walked to the store with the other two suspects, went to the restroom, came out and realized they’d left. He identified one of the suspects as a sophomore at Curtis High School. Officers looked up the student’s address and paid him a visit. The young man admitted to police that he went to the store to steal liquor with his friends so they could resell it. He said he only punched the officer to get away. He was booked at Remann Hall for robbery, assault and minor in possession of alcohol.

The second suspect was later located at his home and admitted to going to the store to steal liquor with his friends because it would have been “rude” not to. He was booked at Remann Hall for robbery and minor in possession of liquor.

MAY 22, 2013

Prescription Drug Fraud: At 2:57 p.m. an officer was dispatched to Bartell Drugs for prescription forgery. The pharmacist told police that earlier that morning, a woman who identified herself as a nurse called in a large prescription for anti-anxiety medication. The pharmacist was suspicious because most prescriptions are sent electronically and doctors' offices rarely call them in.

The pharmacist called the doctor, who confirmed the prescription was forged and that the patient had been discharged from their practice earlier in the year due to prescription drug abuse. The female later arrived at Bartell to pick up her prescription but left without it and before she could be apprehended by police.
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If you have information about one of these incidents or another crime not in progress, contact the University Place Police 24-hour tip line at 253-798-4722.


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