Community Police & Fire

Gig Harbor Police Blotter | The generator strapped to the car was a dead giveaway

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 911 caller reported that he was watching a burglary in progress at a business via security cameras around 12:48 a.m. on April 2. Officers who responded had little trouble picking out the suspect vehicle: It was a Toyota SUV with a generator strapped to the top. 

It was the second recent burglary at the business on Skansie Avenue. An officer’s report indicated that in the first burglary, unknown suspects siphoned gasoline from a generator.  

On their return trip, it appears, they opted to cut out the middle man and just steal the generator. 

Video surveillance confirmed that the suspects stole the generator and other items valued at more than $1,300. 

Officers arrested three people on suspicion of burglary and theft.

Who owns the ashes?

A grieving family called police earlier this month after a dispute arose about who legally owned the cremated remains of their matriarch.

A 42-year-old Arizona woman, in town for a memorial service, called police to report that her cousin had tried to smuggle their grandmothers’ ashes away from a cemetery. The cousin confirmed the story, except the part about smuggling. The Kent resident said she openly took the ashes at the request of her father, the son of the deceased. 

The Arizona woman and the son disagreed over who should have custody of the remains. The officer urged the family to work things out peacefully, but one of the parties later called back and asked the officer to forward the case to prosecutors.

DUI suspect didn’t seem concerned about his daughter

Gig Harbor police officers arrested a 34-year-old Port Orchard man on suspicion of driving under the influence after two collisions on April 19.

A driver called 911 around 3 p.m. that day to report that a Hyundai Genesis had hit their vehicle on Harborview Drive. The Genesis did not stop after the collision. A little later, other callers reported the same vehicle in a ditch on Peacock Hill Avenue.

Officers found the 34-year-old at the scene of the collision, gathering up scattered beverage containers and tossing them in his trunk. An officer wrote in his report that the man “did not appear to be concerned about the well-being” of his 4-year-old daughter, who was in the back seat of the Genesis.

Tests performed later at St. Anthony Hospital showed the man had a blood alcohol level of 0.258, more than three times the legal limit.

Records showed the man had a previous DUI dismissed in Arizona.  

Police arrested him on suspicion of DUI, reckless endangerment and hit and run. 

Man arrested after scuffle with police

Gig Harbor officers scuffled with a 36-year-old Port Orchard man who refused to cooperate with their attempt to arrest him on April 18 near Target.

An officer contacted the 36-year-old after finding his 38-year-old girlfriend passed out in a car in the parking lot. The officer checked the car’s registration and found it belonged to the 36-year-old, who had outstanding warrants.

When officers found the man inside the store, he tried to upend them and put one of them in a chokehold. It took police about four minutes to subdue the suspect. No officers were injured.

The 36-year-old complained of chest pains after the struggle. Medics took him to St. Anthony’s Hospital and police waited until staff here checked him out. Officers arrested him on suspicion of assault and resisting arrest and took him to the Pierce County Jail.