Community Police & Fire
Gig Harbor Police Blotter | Suspect fights security over $28 worth of deli food
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.
A 33-year-old Bremerton man fought several grocery store loss prevention employees after walking out of the store without paying for $28 worth of deli food at about 5 p.m. July 10.
Four store employees watched the man leave without paying and contacted him in the parking lot. The 33-year-old struggled with them there and again after they escorted him back into the store.
The suspect climbed on top of the shopping carts lined up at the entrance as he attempted to flee. He fell off them about when a police officer arrived.
Medics took him to St. Anthony Hospital for treatment of minor injuries suffered in the struggle and the fall. He tried to walk away from the hospital, but officers responded and located him.
Officers booked him into the Pierce County Jail on suspicion of second-degree robbery. A robbery occurs when someone uses force or the threat of force while committing theft.
DUI suspect walks away from hospital
A 74-year-old Gig Harbor man, who police suspect of driving while intoxicated, walked away from St. Anthony Hospital after being involved in a collision in the parking lot of a Harborview Drive restaurant.
Witnesses called police to the restaurant after a non-injury collision around 11:30 a.m. July 21. They found the 74-year-old searching for documents in his vehicle, with a box of wine and an open container of spiked lemonade in plain sight.
Officers later took him to the hospital after he complained of chest pain. Officers couldn’t wait at the hospital for him to be treated, however, and he walked away around 3 p.m.
Police noted that the man had two previous DUI convictions.
Denying reality
A 36-year-old Gig Harbor man, who police said was driving over 90 mph on Highway 16, argued strenuously with an officer who pulled him over near Purdy early on the morning of July 13.
An officer noticed the man’s blue Toyota Celica speeding on Point Fosdick Drive and followed him onto Highway 16. He reported the Celica going at least 90 mph on the highway.
When pulled over, the man refused to hand over his drivers license, registration or insurance. He told the officer that he’d been driving 65 and that he didn’t need to produce documents unless the officer showed evidence that he’d been speeding. The traffic stop was illegitimate, the man argued.
The officer issued the man a citation. His report said that staffing levels prevented him from arresting the uncooperative driver.
Man points gun out of car window
Police arrested a 60-year-old Gig Harbor man who allegedly pointed a pellet rifle at another driver around 9:30 p.m. on July 4.
A driver called 911 around then to say the 60-year-old had pointed the rifle out the window of his car. The 60-year-old was following them, the caller said, and they were going to the Gig Harbor Police Department on Grandview Street.
The 60-year-old claimed he was “defending himself.” But neither party involved could say what started the dispute. Officers booked the 60-year-old into the Pierce County Jail on suspicion of assault.
Small fire at Fox Island home
Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One firefighters put out a house fire on Paha View Drive on the evening of July 22.
Residents smelled smoke shortly after 8 p.m. It was coming from a power box. They couldn’t quickly put it out with a fire extinguisher and called 911.
Fire crews arrived to find the fire had extended to floor joists and the exterior wall. Firefighters ensured the fire was completely extinguished.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.