Community Police & Fire

Gig Harbor Police Blotter | A man and a dog walked into a bar. This guy punched the man

Gig Harbor police arrested a 57-year-old Gig Harbor man on suspicion of fourth-degree assault following a fight in a Harborview Drive tavern around 7 p.m. on April 8. The fight began when the suspect objected to the victim bringing his dog onto the deck of the bar. 

The 57-year-old told officers that he approached the suspect, a 58-year-old Tacoma man, and asked if the dog was a service dog and if he had “papers” for it. The 58-year-old didn’t directly respond to the question, but said he had served several combat tours overseas.  

The two men disagreed over how the confrontation became physical. Shoving, punching and kicking were involved. 

The suspect told police that the tavern had a “no pets” policy that he felt compelled to enforce. He told them he was concerned that the dog might urinate, defecate or bite someone. When officers asked if the dog had actually done any of those things, the suspect admitted that it was just quietly lying under a table. 

Officers cited and released the 57-year-old man. 

15 arrested in shoplifting crackdown

Gig Harbor police reported arresting 15 people during a retail theft emphasis on May 1 and May 2. Police reports available for review on Thursday, May 8, indicated that the emphasis patrol targeted shoplifters at Safeway (née Albertsons) in Gig Harbor North. 

Officers also detained three juvenile suspects, who were released to parents.

Police said they arrested at least one suspect who they had also arrested during a previous retail theft emphasis. Another suspect allegedly attempted to pass a counterfeit bill.

The power of social media 

A Gig Harbor police social media post guilted a 70-year-old woman into admitting to shoplifting from a small business. 

The department posted an image on Facebook showing a woman stealing a coin purse from a local business.  Later on the day of the Facebook post, the woman called police and claimed to have information about the theft. Eventually she admitted to stealing the coin purse and a shirt and said she wanted to pay for the items, which she did. She told police that she has “ a stealing problem” and is seeking therapy. 

Police cited and released the 70-year-old.