Police blotter: Driver’s story of a hit-and-run falls apart, and a suspect takes a powder

A story falls apart

July 30 – A woman called police to complain that a blue vehicle backed into her parked car, then quickly fled the parking lot. The officer could find no blue paint on the woman’s vehicle. Meanwhile, a fast food restaurant called police to inform them that earlier in the day, a woman drove onto the curb and hit a pole. Police soon established that the damage to her vehicle was caused by a collision with the pole earlier in the day, not by a vehicle backing into her car.

Police were dispatched at 2:15 p.m. to the 5300 block of Point Fosdick Drive, where the woman insisted she did not hit the pole. Police went to the fast food restaurant and checked the security camera videotapes, which clearly showed the woman’s car hitting the pole. Vehicles parts were found near the pole that matched the woman’s car.

The officer did not observe any signs of alcohol or drugs. The woman was issued a citation for a hit and run and making a false statement.

Escaped from the officer

July 28 – While an officer was attempting to arrest a man for outstanding warrants, the suspect broke free and fled the scene. After an hour of searching the area, the man was nowhere to be found.

Police performed a record check of a vehicle at 5:25 p.m. in the 11300 block of 51st Avenue which showed the owner of the vehicle had two felony warrants. The note also said the owner could be armed and has resisted arrest in the past.

The officer followed the vehicle until it parked near a restaurant. The driver got out and the officer approached him. While approaching, the officer noticed a large fixed-blade knife handle in the driver’s side of the door panel.

The officer grabbed onto the man’s wrist and began to detain him. The man begged the officer “not to do this” and attempted to pull away. It appeared the man was going to cooperate, but then suddenly slipped the officer’s grip and began to run away. The officer attempted to chase the man, but lost sight of him.

Police made contact with several residents who said they saw the man running barefoot through the area. They searched the area for an hour but did not locate the man.

This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 12:00 AM.