Police blotter: A feigned faint fakes out store clerks as shoplifter slips away

Timely distraction

June 28 – A store customer collapsed to the floor, saying he had low blood sugar. While the staff were occupied with the man, a woman walked out of the store without paying for two coolers. The man then told staff he felt better and left, rejoining the woman and a third person in a vehicle.

Police were dispatched at 9:08 a.m. to the 3400 block of Hunt Street where the two coolers were stolen. One of the store’s security cameras showed the man and woman apparently coordinating the distraction. The man waited near the register until the woman approached with the coolers, and then he appeared to fake the medical issue, giving the woman the opportunity to walk past the register without paying.

The officer obtained a thumb drive with videos and still photos.

New car, no license

June 28 – A driver pulled over for a traffic stop told the officer he recently purchased this vehicle, but did not have a driver’s license, proof of insurance or the vehicle registration.

Police pulled over the vehicle at 5:05 p.m. in the area of Borgen Boulevard and 51st Avenue where the driver admitted to never having a driver’s license. After a records check, the officer noticed the driver’s license check was filled in as “eligible.”

The officer looked through South sound 911 records and learned the driver had a warrant for his arrest. The man was arrested. A broken glass pipe was found in his vehicle with methamphetamine residue.

This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 12:00 AM.