September 23, 6:35 p.m.: Emergency personnel from Blaine Police, U.S. Border Patrol, Washington State Parks, RCMP and Surrey, B.C. fire department converged on the border to rescue a big strapping Canadian youth who had become trapped in machinery at Peace Arch Park. It took them about half an hour to cut down and pull apart the apparatus to extricate the lad. His only lasting injury is the certain knowledge that his family will never forget the time he got himself stuck inside a toddler-sized playground swing set.
September 23, 6:35 p.m.: An officer was dispatched to the Peach Arch port of entry when a person was found in possession of several legal medications which are illegal in the U.S., as well as prescription medications which were not hers. During the investigation the person appeared to be honest and forthcoming, but was still illegally in possession of controlled substances. Police completed a case report to the prosecutor for review and charging.
September 24, 10:39 a.m.: An officer responded to a phone call from a resident whose friend was expressing thoughts of suicide. The officer contacted the lady and after a conversation she agreed to meet with professionals for a mental evaluation. The officer transported her to the hospital.
September 24, 2:40 p.m.: Canadian Border Services Agency at the Douglas port of entry on I-5 advised that a ruptured gas line in their building was forcing them to evacuate and close the port until the leak was repaired. Blaine Police provided traffic control on D Street at the I-5 ramps to prevent traffic from entering the freeway northbound. Washington State Patrol and Department of Transportation units closed I-5 northbound traffic lanes to divert freeway traffic onto the truck route for about 90 minutes while utility crews fixed the gas line.
September 25, 1:56 a.m.: Blaine Police contacted a man who was standing on a guardrail near the Dakota Creek Bridge on Portal Way. The pedestrian explained he was homeless and in the process of relocating his possessions. He declined assistance in his move south for the season. The sheriff’s office was advised in advance of the concerned calls they would probably receive.
September 25, 9:53 a.m.: A motorist called 911 to report that another driver who was speeding had passed her in a no passing zone while driving recklessly on Semiahmoo spit. An officer located and interviewed the suspect driver, who said that she did not recall the incident. She was warned of the hazards and costs of reckless driving, especially in a park in a 25 mph zone with an adjacent walking trail.
September 25, 4:02 p.m.: Police were dispatched to a residence on Mary Avenue for a domestic dispute in progress. Officers conducted an investigation and arrested a juvenile male for a domestic violence assault against his pregnant adult sister. The teenager was booked into juvenile detention.
September 25, 9:10 p.m.: An officer contacted a vehicle to advise its driver of a defective tail/brake light. The motorist admitted that she did not have a license. She was issued a criminal traffic citation for the violation and released with a mandatory court date.
September 26, 12:35 a.m.: Blaine police observed a vehicle traveling southbound in Blaine on Interstate Five at over 100 mph. The driver managed to speed up even more when he spotted the emergency lights of the police cars and then exited the freeway. After running a stop sign and almost crashing into another vehicle the motorist ended his flight from justice and stopped his car. The on-scene investigation resulted in his arrest for eluding, reckless driving, driving while impaired and driving while license suspended. The Custer resident was booked into jail on the charges.
September 26, 9:24 a.m.: Police responded to an emergency at a residence where a son was performing CPR on a parent. Personnel from North Whatcom Fire and Rescue also responded. Despite everyone’s efforts the victim could not be resuscitated. Officers and fire department members assisted the family and the medical examiner’s office was notified.
September 27, 1:04 a.m.: A hysterical woman reported to dispatch via cell phone that she was parked in her car somewhere on B or D Street in Blaine, alone, fearful and needing help. For the next 40 minutes Blaine officers and Border Patrol agents searched from H Street north to the border and from Allen Street to the harbor but were unable to locate the woman or her car. Meanwhile she grew increasingly unhelpful with the dispatchers who were trying to get her assistance, and ultimately hung up on them. Dispatch helped police locate the cell phone the woman was using. It turned out that she was calling from Everett, Washington and police there were notified.
September 27, 1:30 a.m.: Officers on patrol downtown found that someone with more energy than sense had knocked over a half dozen newspaper and pamphlet distribution boxes in a cluster at the edge of the sidewalk on Peace Portal and H Street. Fortunately none of the boxes appeared damaged, and the officers reset them back into position. It was the only vandalism found in the area.
September 27, 8:20 a.m.: A person called to report that their daughter had found a suspicious container strapped to a tree near the post office the previous evening, and provided photos of the object. The device turned out to be a geo-cache canister, and was marked as such. The container was not in what would normally be plain sight, on a small path through some trees near the post office but not on federal property. No criminal activity occurred.
September 27, 9:25 a.m.: An officer returned a wallet to its owner after it was found in the street. The owner said that it had been in her car and must have fallen out. When she checked her unlocked car, she found that someone had entered the vehicle and rummaged through its contents. Her purse was inside but empty, and nothing of value was missing as everything important was kept in the house. A cigarette lighter and some change were the only things taken.
September 27, 11:50 a.m.: U.S. Customs at the Peace Arch port reported that while interviewing a person who was applying for entry into the U.S. they discovered that the traveler’s driving privileges in the states had been suspended by the Washington Department of Licensing. Blaine Police were called, and an officer responded and confirmed the suspension. The motorist was arrested for driving while license suspended and released with a criminal citation and mandatory court date.
September 27, 4:50 p.m.: A young lady who lives with her brother and grandmother became verbally abusive toward the older woman in an argument over money and household matters. The dispute rose to a level of shouting and door slamming that caused concerned neighbors to call police. Officers arrived at their apartment to find that the girl’s brother had ended the tirade by restraining her, and their grandmother had left to go shopping. She was located at the store and interviewed, confirming no physical assault or other crime occurred. The three family members were counseled about domestic violence and Washington’s laws to prevent it.
September 27, 7 p.m.: After sunset several hundred people gathered at the park, shoreline and adjacent commercial properties on Semiahmoo spit to enjoy the clear skies and a full lunar eclipse. Police officers patrolled the area during the event to ensure that everyone had an astronomically safe evening.
September 27, 10:15 p.m.: Police responded to a report of a transient disturbing an employee at a gas station. They arrived and contacted the emotionally disturbed man who explained that he and his pushcart full of belongings had been denied entry to Canada. Officers offered to help the man by transporting him to a shelter but he declined. At the request of the business the man was asked to leave the property and an officer escorted him away.
September 28, 12:36 a.m.: Police responded to a report that a man was in a residence in violation of a court order prohibiting him from being in proximity to one of the home’s occupants. Officers arrived, searched the house and interviewed the people present. The suspect was not located in the home at the time, and an investigation into the incident continues.
September 28, 8:05 a.m.: A resident flagged down an officer to report that her dog had escaped and was running loose. A short time later another person reported seeing the pit bull in front of city hall. An officer arrived and found the dog calmly sitting in front of the building, staring inside, patiently waiting for someone to let him in. He came when called and happily jumped into the back of the police car and was reunited with his owner.
September 28, 12:05 p.m.: Police were dispatched to a home on a report of a suicidal teenager there. Officers located the young man and secured the rifle he had taken from a friend. The youth was transported to hospital for an involuntary mental health evaluation.
September 28, 4:29 p.m.: A woman called to request that a man be trespassed from her residence. Officers contacted the home and discovered that the man had been living at the residence for over two years. The reporting party was informed the facts made the matter a civil rather than criminal issue and a formal eviction process would have to be followed if the man refused to leave voluntarily.
September 28, 6:31 p.m.: Officers responded to a report of a vehicle prowl on B Street near 15th. The theft most likely occurred several days before and was just discovered. A Samsung digital camera was taken from the vehicle. There are no suspects or witnesses at this time.
September 28, 7:36 p.m.: A concerned motorist called to report seeing an elderly male, wearing a long sleeve shirt and pajama bottoms walking down a darkened H Street Road at night. Officers contacted the man, who is a dementia patient, and arranged for him to be reunited with his family.
September 28, 8:09 p.m.: Police responded to a gas station for a transient man bothering customers again. Officers arrived and trespassed the man from the business. They advised him if he returned he would be arrested, then escorted him from the property without incident.
September 29, 3:16 a.m.: A concerned commercial driver called police after he encountered a transient on Boblett Street talking about vampires. An officer located and interviewed the wandering bard, who yet again declined an offer of a courtesy ride to a shelter and chose instead to wander off to find someone else to entertain.
September 29, 1:50 p.m.: Dispatch reported the fire department was in route to a residence to treat a person who had been assaulted. Police arrived and found several people standing outside an apartment complex screaming at a woman sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot. Investigation determined the woman in the car had assaulted a victim in an apartment. She was arrested for misdemeanor assault, and the victim was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
September 29, 6:34 p.m.: Officers responded to a report of a domestic violence assault between two roommates. They investigated and established probable cause for an arrest. The 28-year-old suspect was booked into jail.