Police Blotter: Police Investigate Arson Incident at IMS

Police are investigating two incidents of suspected arson that occurred Feb. 9 on the South-End of Mercer Island. 

The first incident occurred at approximately 9:25 a.m. at when a student discovered a rubber trash can was on fire in a boys bathroom.

The fire was put out by a student and staff members without major damage. A surveillance video showed a 15-year-old known suspect entering and exiting the bathroom before the fire was discovered by another student.

Later at 3:40 p.m., another fire near the men's and women's bathrooms at the was reported. Police discovered a trash can on the north side of the restroom was on fire. Paper was also allegedly burned in the women's bathroom sink and on the floor below the sink, and a partially burnt piece of paper that appeared to be "someone's homework" was left near the exit door.  

Damages were estimated at $200.

Tuesday, Feb. 1 

(Theft) A woman, 52, reported her bicycle was stolen at sometime after the start of Christmas break. The bicycle, a black Trek mountain bike, was valued at approximately $300.

(Vehicle Prowl) A Honda Odyssey minivan was reportedly broken into at 4:37 p.m. at the parking lot. The owner, a 42-year-old local woman, reported that an unknown suspect had smashed out the driver's window and removed a laptop computer, video camera, check book and approximately 8 DVDs were taken out of the vehicle.

(Vehicle Prowl) A woman reported her Volkswagen Passat was broken into at 5:26 p.m. while her car was parked in the parking lot. The 42-year-old resident said her drivers-side window was broken out and a black purse contining a beige leather wallet was stolen.

(False Information) A Seattle woman driving her daughter in a Lexus ES350 was stopped by a police patrol at 10:28 p.m. on the 7700 block of Sunset Highway after the vehicle hit a curb and was driving without lights. The woman said she didn't have her license and gave the name and birthday of her sister to officers. After she was given a ticket, police determined she had given them a false name and she eventually gave her true identity. She was arrested and booked into the Issaquah Jail.

Wednesday, Feb. 2

(Traffic Offenses) A police patrol stopped a Seattle resident driving a green Ford Mustang at 2:18 a.m. on the 7600 block of 29th Street for an "equipment infraction" and found the 35-year-old Seattle man's license, registration and insurance paperwork was allegedly invalid. He was arrested and taken to the Mercer Island police station for processing and his vehicle was released to a licensed passenger. 

(Fraud) A 52-year-old resident of a home on the 7600 block of SE 29th Street reported at 9:42 a.m. an unknown suspect had fraudulently charged her online Walmart account $265.91.

(Malicious Mischief) Police are investigating the appearance of graffiti on the on West Mercer Way. An employee noticed the a 2-foot by 6-foot section of exterior wall was spray painted with graffiti on Feb. 2 and called police at 11:06 a.m. A security camera was able to capture and image of the suspect, which recored the alleged malicious mischief at 5:30 a.m. Mercer Island Police estimate the damage at approximately $150.

Thursday, Feb. 3

(Lost Property) A 68-year-old resident reported his US Passport missing at 1:44 p.m. from his residence on the 3700 block of 77th Place. 

(Found Property) A police officer performing a routine check of a patrol car last October located a $20 bill jammed between the rear passenger seat and door. A lost and found notice was posted but no one came forward to claim the cash. The officer placed the money in MIPD property for proper disposition.

Friday, Feb. 4

(Theft) A resident of a home on the 5000 block of 84th Avenue SE reported at 12:03 p.m. that an unknown suspect had stolen a yellow, plastic-hulled kayak from his dock on Lake Washington. The man, 73, believed the watercraft had been stolen at some point during the last week.

(Informational Report) A police officer was taking part in a police training exercise at City Hall when his 40-caliber pistol accidentally discharged into the floor at 3:32 p.m. The bullet passed through the floor and came to rest in a wall panel of the meeting/storage room

(Malicious Mischief) The owner of a locked mailbox on 3600 block of West Mercer Way reported at 6:09 p.m. that it had been allegedly broken into and mail possibly removed over the past week. The 52-year-old resident of a home on the 7000 block of SE Maker Street gave police photos of the damage and a neighbor's mailbox, which was still intact.

(Warrant Arrest) Police arrested a Seattle man on an arrest warrant on the 7600 block of North Mercer Way at 10:35 p.m. after he was stopped for speeding. A routine check of his license and registration revealed the driver of the Lincoln Continental was wanted on 3 misdemeanor warrants amounting to $15,000 bail. 

Monday, Feb. 7

(Theft) A 16-year-old student at Mercer Island High School reported at 2:30 p.m. that his Apple iPad computer was allegedly stolen from his school desk at some point last Friday, Feb. 4 between 12:30-1 p.m.

(Warrant Arrest) State Patrol troopers arrested a Tacoma man, 31, on a Mercer Island arrest warrant for driving on an suspended license. He was processed at 5:19 p.m. and transported to the Issaquah Jail.

(Found Property) A good samaritan located a Verizon BlackBerry cell phone in the parking lot the of the Bank of America. He turned the phone over to police at 7:07 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 8

(Court Violation) Police arrested a 22-year-old woman and former resident of a home on the 9000 block of West Shorewood Drive for violating a protection order. The suspect was arrested and booked into the King County Jail.

(Informational Report) A 70-year-old resident of a home on the 3400 block of 79th Avenue SE was walking on a path in when she was reportedly bumped by a 5-year-old girl riding a bicycle at 2:51 p.m. The blow allegedly caused the woman fell and sustained a 2-inch cut to her right knee. She was transported to Overlake Hospital for treatment.

(Traffic Offenses) A 25-year-old resident was stopped in his Lincoln Continental on the 3400 block of 77th Place at 6:20 p.m. after a routine police check of his registration showed it was invalid. Officers recognized the man based on prior arrests and he was re-arrested for suspicion of driving on a suspended license. A K-9 search of the vehicle for narcotics came up empty.

(Burglary) An unknown suspect of suspects allegedly took 100 bottles of wine, beer and soda from a refrigerator from their garage at 6:25 p.m. while they were in their residence on the 4500 block of 87th Avenue SE.  

(Vehicle Prowl) The passenger-side window of a Toyota Camry parked on the 9000 block of East Shorewood Drive was allegedly smashed overnight and took a black Lucky brand purse containing miscellaneous papers and a check book was taken. The total loss of the stolen bag was valued at $550. 

Wednesday, Feb. 9

 (Theft) A resident of a home on the 8800 block of SE 44th Street reported at 10:38 a.m. that an unknown suspect had stolen a stove and approximately half a metric ton of wine from his yard. The loss is estimated at $2,875.

(Narcotics) Police arrested a Seattle man, 65, at 4:52 p.m. on the 2700 block of 76th Avenue SE for driving on a suspended license and discovered unprescribed Methadone in his pocket.