Police Blotter: Armed robbery at restaurant; marijuana dispensary burglarized; rocks thrown at vehicles near Golden Gardens; cowboy boot burglary in Ballard
Fri, 07/08/2011
By Cassandra Baker, Intern
11:55 p.m. on July 3rd. 90th block of Holman Rd NW
An employee at a restaurant on Holman Rd was robbed by an armed man just before midnight on July 3rd. The victim said that he was preparing to close up the restaurant and was alone when the incident occurred. He said he left the front door unlocked so that another employee could get back inside after delivering the last two pizzas of the night. The victim said he brought the till into the back office to count the money. At around 11:50 p.m. a masked gunman entered the office and demanded the money. The suspect ran out the back door with the cash (estimated at $1000).
The victim described the suspect as a black male with a thin build and a deep voice; however, the race of the suspect is in question. The suspect was wearing a black ski mask, dark hooded pullover sweatshirt, and gloves. He carried a black handgun, possibly a semiautomatic. He was not found in the area.
1:37 a.m. on July 3rd. 77th block of 15th Ave NW
A medical marijuana dispensary was burglarized in the early hours of July 3rd, but no marijuana appeared to have been stolen. The alarm went off at 1:37 a.m. and an officer arrived at the scene soon afterward. A window had been broken with a rock; the suspect then reached through the window to unlock the front door. The responding officer found the rock lying inside the store. The suspect disabled three of the four security cameras. There was no sign that the suspect had taken any marijuana plants or other cannabis products.
8:28 a.m. on July 2nd. 9th block of NW 97th St
A home on 97th St was burglarized on the night of July 1st, and the burglars stole numerous valuable items including a vehicle. The residents of the house awoke to find several drawers and cabinets open throughout the house and their two Apple MacBooks missing. A set of keys and a Ford Escape Hybrid had also been stolen. The stolen vehicle contained several items including an iPhone, a digital camera, and baby equipment. Another SUV parked outside the house was rummaged through but not stolen. The responding officer dusted for prints at numerous locations but did not find any.
The victims told the officer that their front door had been left unlocked. A witness told the officer that at around 1:30 in the morning, he saw two young Hispanic males in the SUV in front of the home. The suspects were wearing dark clothing and had Jansport backpacks. The victim is attempting to trace the burglars through the locating device on his stolen iPhone.
10:09 p.m. on July 1st. 84th block of Seaview Ave NW
Two moving cars were hit with rocks near Golden Gardens on the night of July 1st. One of the victims told police that he was driving his car along Golden Gardens Drive NW when he heard something hit the driver’s side of his vehicle. Immediately afterward, he said, another victim was hit in the face with a rock. The responding officer observed a large dent in the rear driver’s side door of the victim’s car but did not see any facial injuries. The other vehicle involved in the incident had two dents. Neither victim saw the suspect(s), but they believed the suspect(s) threw rocks from a wooded area. Officers searched the area but did not find anyone.
11:45 a.m. on July 1st. 62nd block of 3rd Ave NW
A burglar stole cash and three pairs of used women’s cowboy boots from a Ballard store on the night of June 30th. All three pairs of boots were size 8. The burglar also stole $389 in cash. The owner of the store said that the front door was ajar when she arrived on the morning of July 1st. There were no signs of forced entry, and the owner believes that the burglar used a key. The victim has no idea who committed the crime. Only a few trusted employees have a key to the store.
10:00 a.m. on July 1st. 52nd block of Leary Way NW
A restaurant on Leary Way was burglarized on the night of June 30th. The suspect removed a piece of wood from the back office window and unlocked the door. The suspect then entered the office and stole about $1000 in cash as well as the signature stamp used to endorse checks. The box of daily receipts was also stolen.