‘I couldn’t smoke the whole bowl, officer, because you pulled me over’

Island County Sheriff’s deputies on Camano Island responded to the following recently:

• On April 2, a deputy was passed by a silver 2005 Hyundai Elantra traveling 53 mph in a 35 mph zone. The deputy initiated a traffic stop at Huntington’s Grocery, at the corner of W. North Camano Drive and Brokaw Road. The officer smelled marijuana as he approached the vehicle and asked the 20- year-old male driver to step out of the vehicle. He did so, leaving a pipe and a baggie of marijuana on the seat. The man confessed to taking two “hits” off the pipe while driving and told the officer he couldn’t finish the “bowl” because he got pulled over. He was cited in connection with possession of marijuana, less than 40 grams, and possession and use of paraphernalia.

• Also on April 2, officers stopped a 45-year-old male driver of a green 1994 Ford F-150 pickup truck for traveling 45 mph in a 35 mph zone near the intersection of Salal Hill Lane and N. West Camano Drive. While approaching the vehicle, officers noticed an open case of Budweiser and several empty bottles in the bed of the truck. The driver appeared intoxicated and couldn’t produce a license, registration, or proof of insurance. He said he forgot his wallet. After agreeing to, and failing, field sobriety tests, the man was transported to the precinct where his blood alcohol content was measured above the legal limit. He was cited in connection with driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding, before being released to his wife.

• Deputy received a report of shoplifting at the Camano Plaza IGA on March 30. The manager on duty said he witnessed a 62-yearold man loading his shopping cart with two bags of dog food, two cartons of Camel cigarettes and groceries before pushing the cart outside without paying. The manager said he confronted the man in the parking lot when he was loading the groceries into his car and asked to see his receipt. The man said it was in his car, an older yellow station wagon. The man got in the vehicle, backed into the shopping cart, and fled north. Police found the man at his house and he confessed to the theft, valued at $365.38. He was cited in connection with theft.

• In a somewhat related incident, officers were again called to IGA on March 31 for a shoplifting incident. This time, a 63-year-old man was witnessed stealing bulk candy. He was suspected of doing the same thing a week prior. The manager confronted him in the parking lot and escorted him inside to wait for law enforcement. When officers arrived, they asked the man to empty his pockets. In addition to the candy, the man also had a package of batteries. He admitted to taking both, but said he was just going to the car to get a water bottle before he paid. The man was processed in connection with theft and was bared from the store and surrounding area.

• On March 31, a 71- year-old male resident in the Country Club area reported that sometime between July of last year and the present, his 10-foot 1988 Livingston boat was stolen off the No. 1 Beach. He estimated the boat’s value at $400.

• A 28-year-old man reported that his wife’s 2006 Jeep Cherokee had been broken into on April 5. The vehicle was parked at their residence in the 1900 block of Bartl Drive. A Kodak digital camera valued at $300, a second digital camera of unknown make and value, and a bottle of cologne were missing. The man also noted that his checkbook, which had been in the vehicle, was “out of place” but nothing appeared to be missing.

• A second vehicle was broken into in the 400 block of Marine View Place. A 44- year-old woman who owned the vehicle said that a Panasonic Lumix digital camera, $71 cash, and a charge card were missing.

• On April 5, officers observed a blue 1996 Pontiac Sunfire following too closely. They initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of S. East Camano Drive and Karen Way. The driver, a 21-year-old man, had a suspended license and a warrant for failure to appear and/or an unpaid ticket. He remained polite and cooperative, taking responsibility for his actions. He was cited in connection with driving with license suspended and failure to appear in court for an unpaid ticket.

• Deputies stopped a yellow 2002 Mini Cooper at the intersection of SR 532 and Good Road on April 3 because one headlight was out. The driver, a 22-year-old man, told officers his license was suspended and that he was driving so his girlfriend could have a drink. His name was also registered in connection with a warrant in Seattle, and officers found a marijuana pipe in the car. The man said he had smoked about four hours ago. He was transported to Snohomish County Jail and booked in connection with the outstanding warrant.

• On April 3, a 69-yearold man reported a burglary at his home in Driftwood Shores. He said his neighbor’s home was also broken into. The man sustained about $200 damage at the point of entry, but nothing was missing. His neighbor, a 63-year-old woman, also sustained damage to her home’s window frames and her laptop computer was missing. Nothing else was disturbed.