Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Teens Cited for Starting Fire Behind Recycling Center

The following information from Aug. 30 - Sept. 16 was supplied by the Mercer Island Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

Mercer Island Police cited a group of 14 and 15-year-old boys and girls for reckless burning after they were discovered lighting a small fire on Saturday, Sept. 15 at around 4:15 p.m. behind the old Mercer Island Recycling Center near Bicentennial Park.

The teens left the fire burning when a Seattle man who saw it asked them what they were doing, and later called 911 to report it. No fire damage was found to the structure, but police noted a small area of burned ground near the building.

Police later contacted the juveniles, who admitted to starting the fire and stated that "it was just for fun," and "had no intention of causing damage."

Aug. 30

Pedestrian Hit in Crosswalk Near Mercer Island Park & Ride
A 21-year-old Mercer Island woman was struck by a car at 5:41 p.m. while in the crosswalk on 81st Ave. SE near the Mercer Island Park & Ride, causing minor injuries. The driver of a Volkswagen Rabbit was driving on westbound SE 24th St. and was turning onto 81st Ave. SE and said he was "temporarily blinded by the sun" and did not see the pedestrian until "she was on the hood" of his car. He was cited for failure to yield and the woman was treated for minor cuts and bruises.

Aug. 31

MIHS Student Bookbag Stolen Druing Assembly
A Mercer Island High School student reported her black messenger bag was stolen from the commons area of the school during a school assembly after she left it there as requested by school staff at 1:55 p.m. She reported $60 in cash, drivers license, a set of house and car keys, a school sweatshirt and school supplies were inside the bag.

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Sept. 4

Resident Defrauded $12,400 by Home Renovation Contractor
A 43-year-old homeowner claimed she was the victim of a fraudulent scheme to perform home renovation work that was never done, costing her over $12,000. The resident of a home on the 7600 block of SE 40th Street said she paid an Ocean Shores-based home renovation company $15,000 on June 9 to begin working on her residence, but later discovered their business license has been revoked by the state. She recovered $2,600 but repayment was stopped after one of the business owners passed away.

Sept. 5

Elderly Driver Sideswipes Resident on West Mercer Curve
An 81-year-old Renton man driving his Lexus LS 44D sedan through a curve northbound on the 4200 block of West Mercer Way side-swiped a Toyota Highlander SUV traveling in the opposite direction at 6:13 p.m. The collision caused minor damage to the Toyota's side mirror and left rear door. The Lexus driver was later cited for driving without a valid license.

Car 'Keyed' in MI Park & Ride
Vandals caused $500 in damage to a Toyota Sequoia parked on the lower level of the Mercer Island Park & Ride. The owner, a 36-year-old resident, said someone had deliberately "keyed" the left front panel and driver's side door sometime between 3 - 5:45 p.m.

Islander Rung up for $1,836 in Credit Card Fraud
The resident of a home on the 3800 block of 76th Ave. SE discovered a total of $1,836.81 was fraudulently charged to his Visa and American Express credit cards.

Witness Claims Postal Worker Gabbing on Phone in Accident
A US Postal Service truck struck a Ford Explorer at 5:30 p.m. while it was parked in a parking stall on the 3200 block of 80th Ave. SE. A witness said he saw the postal worker, a 41-year-old Kent woman, talking on her cell phone when she started the USPS truck and it lurched forward into the Ford SUV. The woman said she had called her supervisor after the accident and volunteered her phone for police inspection, but the log of recent calls was empty.

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Sept. 6

Senior Driver 'Blinded By Sun' in Multi-Car Crash on ICW
Claiming he was blinded by the sun, a 67-year-old resident driving a Mercedes Benz 320 southbound on the 4500 block of Island Crest Way caused a multi-vehicle accident at 12:17 p.m. Three vehicles were stopped for traffic south of the intersection with Merrimount Drive when the Mercedes rear-ended a Porsche Cayenne, which then collided with a Lexus and a Ford F-150. The Porsche driver suffered whiplash injuries in the crash and was transported to the hospital and the Mercedes owner was treated by Mercer Island Fire Department EMTs and cited for driver inattention.

Teen Suffers Whiplash in Distracted Driver Crash Near MIHS
Distracted by his dogs while driving a Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car, a 20-year-old resident driving westbound on SE 40th St. rear-ended a BMW X5 stopped at SE 88th Street at 2:17 p.m., causing minor whiplash injuries. The BMW driver, a 16-year-old resident, refused medical aid and the Mistubishi driver was cited for driver inattention.

Sept. 7

Local Teen Arrested for Drunk Driving
Police arrested a 17-year-old resident for drunk driving after his white Acura TL was pulled over on the 7400 block of 24th Avenue SE at 11:35 p.m. for a broken headlight. Police noticed the strong odor of alcohol and his slurred speech, and a breathalyzer test results of 1.102 and 0.110 indicated he was intoxicated. He was later released to his parents.

Sept. 8

Green Tumb Thieves Swipe Gardening Tools
A resident on the 3400 block of 79th Ave. SE reported a pair of pruning sheers and branch nippers were stolen from her front yard sometime between 4:30 - 4:45 p.m. on Sept. 7.

Sept. 9

Local Man Arrested for DUI
Police arrested a 31-year-old resident for DUI after his red Jeep Cherokee was stopped on the 5800 block of West Mercer Way at 2:57 a.m. for a lane violation. Police noticed the strong odor of alcohol on his breath but he denied drinking. He failed a field sobriety test and a breathalyzer test results of 0.178 and 0.175 later indicated he was intoxicated.

Father-Daughter Driving Lesson Ends in Crash
A 15-year-old teenage girl accidentally drove into a metal fence at Mercer Island High School around Islander Stadium while her father was trying to give her a driving lesson at 8:45 p.m. The teen said he was trying to park and accidentally hit the accelerator pedal instead of the brake, causing damage.

Sept. 11

Vehicle Towed from Mercerdale Street
Police towed and impounded a Toyota Corolla from the 3700 block of 77th Place for parking in excess of 72 hours.

Woman Texts Man, Violates Court Order
A 49-year-old woman reportedly violated a Sept. 10 restraining order after sending several emails and text messages to a 50-year-old local man. The case was referred to county prosecutors.

Sept. 12

Stolen Seattle Van Found on West Mercer Way
Mercer Island Police returned a stolen Ford Econoline E350 van to its Seattle owner after it was found abandoned on the 2200 block of West Mercer Way at 1:15 a.m.

Good Samaritan Finds Key Ring in Pioneer Park
A good Samaritan turned in a key ring with one key on it to Mercer Island Police.

Seattle Man Arrested at Traffic Stop
Police arrested a Seattle man on several outstanding warrants as he was trying to repair his broken-down red Chevrolet truck on westbound Interstate 90 at 7:27 p.m.

Sept. 13

Semi-Auto Pistol Turned in to MIPD
A 49-year-old woman turned in her father's Autauga Arms 32 Mark II semi-automatic handgun and several clips of ammunition for destruction at the Mercer Island Police Department.

Vodka Stolen From Albertsons
A man reportedly shoplifted a 1.75-liter bottle of Platinum Vodka, valued at $33.10, from Albertsons at 7:15 p.m. The man, described as African-American in his 40s, 6' 2", slender build with a short afro and unshaven, fled on foot to a waiting blue Toyota truck in the QFC parking lot, which then drove away.

Luther Burbank Park Car Prowl
Vehicle prowlers broke into a Jeep Liberty parked in the north parking lot at Luther Burbank Park at approximately 7 p.m. and removed several belongings inside. The owner, a 49-year-old Redmond woman, said a Dell laptop computer, tote bag and purse were taken after the suspect smashed the front passenger-side window to enter the Jeep.

Sept. 14

Car Crash Near MIHS Injures 13-year-old Passenger
A 48-year-old woman driving a Cadiliac CTS was driving northbound on 91st Ave. SE and crossed an uncontrolled intersection at SE 43rd Street and crashed into the side of a Honda Element SUV at 8:01 a.m. The driver of the Honda said the woman appeared to be driving too fast. The 13-year-old daughter of the Cadiliac complained of a sore back but her mother refused treatment.

Sept. 15

Islander Arrested on Warrant at Traffic Stop
A 21-year-old Mercer Island man was arrested at 1:48 a.m. on the 8900 block of SE 40th Street on an outstanding warrant in Ellensburg after he was stopped while driving his red Mazda 3 for expired tabs.

Sept. 16

Drunk Driver Vomits, Loses Consciousness After Arrest
A 32-year-old Seattle man was arrested for drunk driving after police pulled over the silver Toyota Camry he was driving for speeding at 1:26 a.m. The man refused to perform a field sobriety test and later passed out and vomited at the Mercer Island Police Department. A Mercer Island Fire Department aid car transported the man to Overlake Hospital after police obtained a blood sample for evidence.

Teen Cyclist Collides With Acura on Mercerwood Drive
A 15-year-old cyclist suffered minor bruises after he collided with a car on Mercerwood Drive that pulled out in front of him at 97th Ave. SE at 11 a.m. the 54-year-old man driving an Acura Legend said he had stopped and checked both directions and didn't see the cyclist before pulling out into the intersection. The teenager said he was traveling quickly downhill and saw the car but couldn't stop in time. No citation was issued.


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