Community Police & Fire

Gig Harbor Police Blotter | During collision investigation, driver had a drink

Editor’s note: The Blotter is written based on information provided by Gig Harbor Police , Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.

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A 26-year-old Gig Harbor man took a drink from a can of hard cider in plain view of an officer following a collision on March 18. Predictably, officers later arrested him for driving under the influence.

The collision occurred around 2 p.m. that afternoon and involved two Subaru Outbacks. One, driven by the 26-year-old, blew through an intersection near Apollo Way and Sentinal Drive and collided with the other.

Neither driver sustained serious injuries.

While officers checked the scene, the 26-year-old walked up to his car, pulled out a can of cider and took a swig. The officer couldn’t believe his eyes, so he walked over to the car and confirmed the can contained alcohol. Several empties littered the floor of the car.

The 26-year-old agreed to a breath test. The highest result was .120, well above the legal limit.

He asked for ketamine, but got a trip to the hospital

Officers arrested a 36-year-old Federal Way man on March 8 after he caused a ruckus at a bar on Point Fosdick Drive.

Witnesses told police the man spent a couple hours at the bar asking other customers for ketamine, which nobody supplied to him. He allegedly shoved one customer and pointed a can of bear mace at another. He was recording on his own phone during the bear mace incident, so police have that footage as evidence.

When police spoke with him, the 36-year-old tried to convince them that he was the son of the Gig Harbor police chief, that he had family members in high-ranking military office and that he went to Harvard Law School. 

He asked for medical help due to a cut on his knee. At the hospital, he defecated in a garbage can, urinated on the floor and acted erratically.

Police cited him for trespass and assault. St. Anthony Hospital held him for an involuntary mental health evaluation. He had a history of bipolar disorder. 

Threats with a knife

Police arrested a 50-year-old Gig Harbor man on March 9 after he threatened another patron at a bar with a knife. 

A 33-year-old man called police to a tavern on Burnham Drive around 7:30 p.m. that evening. He said the 50-year-old approached him, produced a folding knife and threatened to kill him. 

Officers found the knife in the older man’s pocket and arrested him on suspicion of intimidation, malicious harassment, stalking with a weapon and other charges. He spent his ride to the Pierce County Jail kicking and spitting in the back of a patrol car.