Albertsons Employee Attacked by Shoplifter — Mercer Island Police Blotter

A chronic shoplifter caught red-handed at Albertsons on Saturday, Dec. 22 was arrested after he attacked a store employee who tried to detain him, say Mercer Island Police.

Reports say store employees tried to stop him at around 4:15 p.m. for shoplifting more unspecified goods when he lashed out and injured one of them, a 60-year-old Kirkland man.

The man scratched the Albertsons employee in the face, leaving two "distinct fingernail marks carved into the (man's) face", according to the police summary of events.  

The 40-year-old Seattle man had reportedly tried to steal goods from the same supermarket several times over the past two weeks.

An Albertsons manager told Mercer Island Patch on Wednesday that the employee, whom they declined to identify, was not seriously hurt in the attack and is currently "doing fine."

Dec. 14

Rowing Shell Washes up on Beach
A rowing shell washed up on a private beach on the 3400 block of West Mercer Way. The vessel, a red-and-white "Virus" brand rowing shell, was secured at the Mercer Island Police Station.

Dec. 17

Man Violates Restraining Order at Island Park Elementary
A 34-year-old Mercer Island man in a maroon Jeep Wrangler violated a temporary retraining order after he ventured within 25-feet of the petitioner at 9 a.m. as he dropped children off at Island Park Elementary School.

Fraudsters Ring up Thousands on Woman's Credit Card
BECU bank employees informed a 56-year-old woman that fraudulent charges of between $750 to $5,000 had been made on her credit card at multiple stores between Dec. 14-17. The woman, a resident of the 5000 block of 84th Avenue SE, said she had not authorized the charges.

Woman Injured in ICW/SE 40th St. Fender-Bender
A local woman travelling northbound on Island Crest Way suffered neck injuries in an auto collision as she tried to turn right onto SE 40th Street at 7:22 p.m. while the light was red. A Tacoma woman driving a Chevrolet Equinox began turning left on a green light from southbound Island Crest Way onto SE 40th St. at the same time when collision occurred. The local woman was cited for traffic violations.

Holiday Packages Stolen From Mercer Highlands Front Porch
A Mercer Highlands neighborhood homeowner reported two packages delivered by UPS to her front door disappeared between 5-7 p.m. A set of Legos and a Logitech Webcam were among the goods stolen from the home on the 9100 block of SE 50th Street.

Dec. 18

Woman, 89, Tests Positive for Cocaine Use
A court-appointed guardian ad litem told police an 89-year-old Aljoya resident she was responsible for was rushed to the Overlake Medical Center Emergency Room at 10 a.m. A toxicology screening tested positive for cocaine in her system.

Truck, Trailer Crashes Into Resident's Front Yard
A Dodge truck and trailer crashed into the front yard of a home on the 3400 block of 69th Ave. SE at 5:15 p.m., damaging landscaping and a tree. The 34-year-old Harmony, MN truck owner said he blocked the tires and put the vehicle in park, but the weight of trailer pulled trailer and vehicle down the hill.

Drunk Driver Collides With West Mercer Stop Sign, Bushes
A 36-year-old Bellevue man was arrested for drunk driving on the 4100 block of West Mercer Way at 9:40 p.m. after his white Ford Econoline van was located and he was found by patrol officers nearby. Residents complained that the man struck a stop sign and bushes before he parked the van.

Dec. 19

Open House Real Estate Agent Reports ID Theft, Forgery
A real estate agent holding an open house on Dec. 3 and Dec. 10 on the 6400 block of East Mercer Way reported a series of fraudulent purchases, totalling less than $1,500, had been made online in her name on Dec. 17. She had left her purse unattended on the counter during the open house. The homeowner also reported earlier that his cell phone had been stolen in the incident.

Dec. 20

Elderly Woman Injured in Fall on 76th Ave SE
Mercer Island Fire Department EMTs took an 82-year-old Island House resident to Overlake Hospital after she slipped and fell on the sidewalk at 12:30 p.m. on the 2400 block of 76th Ave. SE. She suffered a laceration to her forehead and broke her eyeglasses in the fall.

Parkwest Home Burglarized; Goods Worth $1,000s Stolen
Daylight burglars smashed a rear door window of a home with a rock on the 6700 block of 81st Ave. SE and took several pieces of jewelry and electronic items from inside between 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. A set of pearl necklaces, an Apple MacBook laptop and Surface X2 tablet computer were among the items stolen. The burglary had several similarities to earlier burglaries reported in December.

Dec. 21

Bicycle Stolen from First Hill Home Front Porch
The resident of a home on the 3000 block of 71st Ave. SE reported a men's Novara "Metro Comfort" bicycle stolen from the front porch of his home sometime overnight.

Dec. 23

Drunk Seattle Woman Arrested Driving on I-90
A 27-year-old Seattle woman was arrested on the 6000 block of Interstate 90 at 2:23 a.m. after she was pulled over for committing multiple traffic violations. The patrol officer noticed the smell of alcohol and the woman admitted to drinking. She failed several field-sobriety tests and her BAC was later measured over the legal limit at 0.102/0.100.

Speeding Issaquah Man Arrested on Drug Warrant
A 33-year-old Issaquah resident was arrested on an $2,500 outstanding felony warrant for controlled substances violations after he was stopped for speeding on the 8600 block of North Mercer Way at 4:42 p.m. He was booked into the King County Jail and his vehicle, an Audi A6, was later released to a friend.

(Ed. Note: The Mercer Island Police Blotter is not intended to be representative of all crime on Mercer Island, but is instead a representation of police activity from the persepctive of the MIPD.)