Accidents

A Mercer Island man drove off the road heading southbound on West Mercer Way on May 31. According to the police report, the man stated that he was driving along the 5400 block of West Mercer Way when he looked down at his radio, became distracted and then missed the oncoming curve. The car veered off the road and down into a steep embankment. The officer at the scene determined that the man had been driving between 44 and 51 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone. A passenger in the vehicle complained of chest pain. No other injuries were reported.

An Island truck crashed into a stop sign and fire hydrant while making a westbound turn onto Island Crest Way from S.E. 68th Street on June 1. According to the police report, the incident was a hit-and-run. A witness called police and stated that she saw the truck stopped in the roadway after the driver struck the fire hydrant so hard that it broke off its foundation and skidded into the roadway. The witness described the vehicle as a baby blue cab with orange on it. The cab was reportedly pulling a 40-foot trailer. The truck also struck a stop sign, breaking the sign in half upon impact. Tread marks found in the grass showed that the truck drove directly over the fire hydrant and fled the scene.

A two-car collision occurred in the 4200 block of Island Crest Way on June 3. According to the incident report, a female driver heading southbound struck a car in the next lane while trying to merge. The car that was struck stopped for a pedestrian at the 42nd Street crosswalk. The woman did not notice the car slowing down and veered into it while merging into the right lane. No injuries were reported.

Arrests

A MIPD officer arrested a University Place man with an outstanding felony warrant on May 31. According to the police report, the man was stopped for speeding at 42 mph in a 30 mph zone on the I-90 corridor, heading west. The driver produced a valid Washington state license. A computer check revealed that he had an outstanding warrant for possession of dangerous drugs. The officer searched the man’s car and found 94 pills and six packages of white powder that tested positive as Ecstasy and cocaine. The man was arrested.

Two Mountlake Terrace residents, a 19-year-old female and a 22-year-old male, were arrested for possession of marijuana on June 1. The couple was spotted in their car at an Island park after hours. According to the police report, smoke was billowing out of the car’s windows. The officer approached the vehicle and found that the two people inside were smoking marijuana. A search of the car revealed more marijuana, alcohol and drug paraphernalia.

Mercer Island police arrested a Des Moines man with an outstanding warrant for a trip permit violation in the 8000 block of North Mercer Way on June 2. The man’s vehicle was pulled over after a computer check revealed that he was driving with a revoked license. The $1,000 warrant was confirmed with the City of Redmond and the driver was placed under arrest.

Mercer Island police arrested two male suspects for possession of marijuana on June 4. According to the police report, a woman living in the 3000 block of 80th Avenue S.E. called to report two men suspicious of car prowling in the neighborhood. An officer arrived at the scene and located the men, who fled from the officer immediately. The officer found the duo in a nearby apartment and discovered marijuana on them.

Mischief

An employee at Islander Middle School reported graffiti on the south side of the school, near the track and along a path leading into the Lakes neighborhood on June 1. The graffiti was cleaned up before police arrived at the scene, yet the school employee took photographs as evidence.

An employee at West Mercer Elementary reported that graffiti had been sprayed on a storage shed on the school campus. The vandalism occurred sometime between June 5 and June 8. The total approximate damage is $500.

Missing

A patient at the Mercer Island Care and Rehabilitation Center checked himself out of the facility to “go to the store” on June 1 and has not been seen since. A center employee reported the man missing. He is considered endangered due to his medical conditions. The man’s name was entered into WACIS and NCIC by operator 178.

Fraud

An Island resident reported that $1,450 worth of fraudulent charges were made to two of his credit cards sometime between May 30 and June 2. The man was made aware of the fraud when his bank called him to report suspicious activity to his accounts. The victim said that he was still in possession of both cards. The point of compromise is unknown.