Tag: transients

Posted by Caleb Hutton

Text courtesy of the Blaine Police Department, with minor edits for style.

Wednesday, Oct. 31

6:15 p.m. State officials notified Blaine police when they learned that an unresponsive four month old Blaine boy had been taken to hospital in Bellingham by his mother. Examinations by medical staff revealed the child had suffered serious past and present injuries. A police investigation was initiated as the child was airlifted to a trauma center in Seattle. The Department of Social and Health Services personnel, Seattle Police, Bellingham Police and the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office are assisting the investigation. On Nov. 2, the father of the child admitted to police he had thrown the infant to the ground on the afternoon of Oct. 31. The 31-year-old Blaine resident father was arrested and booked into on one charge of assault of a child in the first Degree. The victim remains in critical condition at the intensive care unit of a Seattle trauma center as the police investigation continues.

7:40 p.m. Police responded to a call of domestic dispute in progress at a residence on D Street. Officers arrived and contacted a couple who were out in their driveway arguing about what time to take their child trick-or-treating. Officers found no evidence of a physical altercation between the combatants, who felt the police and witnesses had overreacted by paying any attention to their public disagreement.

7:50 p.m. A banking customer called police after stumbling upon a woman’s body laying in front of the ATM machine. An officer responded to rouse the sleeping transient who was not at all happy about the interruption. The lady explained a Good Samaritan was fetching her a hamburger, and when done dining she might hail a bus to Bellingham. She was advised to not block access to the business which she was gracing with her presence.

Thursday, Nov. 1

8:26 a.m. A resident opened the trunk of her car at home on A Street and discovered that someone had left a modified-length shotgun and drug paraphernalia inside. She called police to express her surprise and dismay, and an officer responded to investigate and impound the contraband. The end result was a case report for review and prosecution of a teen-aged criminal gang member relative who had borrowed the vehicle.

1:07 p.m. A transient called dispatch to have an officer meet her downtown and give her a ride to Bellingham. An officer responded to meet the lady, and offered to escort her to the nearest transit stop and pay her bus fare. She was incensed at the idea of stooping to shared public transit and declared she’d rather remain in Blaine to enjoy the food and assistance being offered by its friendly residents.

4:34 p.m. A resident contacted Blaine police to report she’d found a canoe washed up on the shore of her property about one month ago. No one nearby had lost a canoe, and no recent reports of lost or stolen canoes had been filed with the police, sheriff’s office, or other agencies according to computer inquiries. The resident completed a “found property declaration” asserting her claim to the boat if the owner is not located. Police left the vessel with her for safekeeping during the waiting period.

11:30 p.m. An employee working late at the elementary school campus called police to report that he had found a person curled up on the ground outside of the building. An officer responded and checked the area with the caller, but the person had unfurled and drifted away into the chilly night.

Friday, Nov. 2

8:24 a.m. A young man borrowed his dad’s vehicle for a trip to the store, and set off down Adelia Street. Since he did not have a driver’s license and the van was not insured, he played it safe and pulled on his seat belt.  The gent’s attention drifted while he wrestled with the restraint, and his vehicle drifted into the parking lane. Fate and physics took over from there. The force of the van crashing into a neighbor’s parked pickup spun the truck out into the street. It was still there when police responded to investigate the collision.  The 24-year-old was cited for his violations, and officers helped the victim truck owner push the remnants of his rig up into his driveway.

11:49 a.m. High school officials called police when they caught two students on campus in possession of alcohol. An officer responded to investigate and interviewed the witnesses.  A 15-year-old was arrested for possession of a 24 ounce can of beer, and his 14-year-old friend was arrested for being a minor in possession of alcohol by consumption. Both were expelled and released to their parents pending a summons to juvenile court.

3:31 p.m. A Blaine resident came to the police department to report he had made himself the victim a fraud after not passing up a deal too good to be true for a motor vehicle purchase on eBay. There is no good suspect information available, and a report was taken to document the victim’s $1,061 loss. The resident was advised to also file a report online with the FBI’s internet fraud division.

Saturday, Nov. 3

1:30 a.m. A resident on F Street heard his dog barking and checked to find two young men prowling his car, which was parked in the driveway.  They fled when spotted, and were last seen running north on 4th Street.  Blaine officers and Border Patrol agents searched the area for the pair, who were wearing dark clothing and looked to be 18 to 20 years old. The two made better chickens than thieves, as they got away but got nothing from the vehicle.

11:50 a.m. Customs & Border Protection officers at the Peace Arch called Blaine Police when they found ecstasy tablets in the vehicle of a British Columbia resident wanting to visit the United States. An officer responded to investigate, impounded the substance for analysis and forwarded a case report to the felony prosecutor for review of drug possession charges.

4:13 p.m. A daycare facility called police when a man came to pick up a child but was not on the authorized pickup list and could not provide any documentation about his parental rights. The mother was contacted and advised that she working on filing a threats complaint against the man with the police agency where she lives. Mom came to collect the youngster and the gentleman advised that he would return with parenting paperwork.  He has not been back.

Tuesday, Nov. 6

5:25 p.m. A business manager requested police presence at an industrial building. An employee was suspended pending his termination of employment. He has been argumentative during the process leading up to his last day today. An officer was present for about 40 minutes at the business to keep the peace but the future ex-employee did not show up for work.