A motion-activated sprinkler ambushed pedestrians to deter dog poop. He’d had enough
Editor’s note: This blotter is compiled from recent Gig Harbor police reports.
The case of the motion-activated sprinkler
A 44-year-old woman called 911 on July 11 to report that someone had vandalized her sprinkler system and retaining wall about 10 p.m. the night before.
Video showed a man ripping her sprinkler out of the ground. A block from the retaining wall fell in the process, but that didn’t seem to be the “intended target,” an officer wrote in the police report.
The man was clearly taking his anger out on the sprinkler, the officer noted. Then he walked away, carrying his water bottle.
The woman said she didn’t recognize the man, but she noted that she was having a problem with someone who walked his dog at night. He let the dog poop and didn’t clean it up.
She set the motion-activated sprinkler to its night setting to stop the culprit.
Having a sprinkler spray passersby on the sidewalk could lead to other problems, the officer warned.
In the end, they both agreed that taking down the sprinkler “may be the best option,” the officer wrote.
The case is suspended pending good leads.
Fitness center charges lead to threat
Officers responded to a fitness studio about 5 p.m. June 12 in the 5500 block of Olympic Drive.
The owner said a client did a demo at the facility, signed up for a three-month program and was charged for the service but had not used it.
When he asked for a refund, the business told him he’d be charged for the first two months but would get credit for the third.
The client argued with an employee that he was charged $1,200 for no service.
Ultimately he clapped his hands several times, said: “I’m going to burn this (expletive) down,” and left.
Police forwarded the information to prosecutors to review.
Car-wash customer throws sign at employee
A would-be customer at a car wash was upset shortly before 11 a.m. June 24, because the business in the 3100 block of 56th Street was closed.
The 66-year-old took a plastic “open” sign that was in the grass out front, swore at employees, then threw the sign at one of them.
The worker ducked, effectively dodging the sign.
The suspect is no longer welcome at the car wash, whether it’s open or not. An officer called him to trespass him from the business.
