A few weeks back (but worth mentioning), on Nov. 27, police were busy repeatedly responding to complaints of loud fireworks being lit off in the 3000 block of s.w. Andover St between 2 and 3 a.m. Police had responded to three 911 calls, but each time the suspects were able to hide from authorities. Finally, on the fourth 911 call, a fed up neighbor identified the house being used as base camp for the out-of-season firework display. When officers arrived, the suspects’ house was “ablaze with light and music was playing inside.” They could smell the lingering scent of exploded fireworks and found the lawn littered with spent bottle rockets, mortars and roman candles. The officer knocked loudly on the door, the music died and he heard people running around the house. No one answered. He knocked a few more times, then walked to the back of the house and found the rear door wide open. He announced his presence and entered to find three “very intoxicated” white males in their early twenties who “were so drunk they had difficulty speaking.” Strewn about the house were empty Rainer beer cans, 400 bottle rockets, 12 gauge shotgun shells, a Benelli Supernova 12 gauge shotgun and black electrical tape the suspects were using to bind several bottle rockets together. One of the suspects had purchased the fireworks at a local reservation and said he knew it was illegal to shoot them off within city limits. Officers explained that shooting off loud fireworks around 3 a.m. has a tendency to disturb the neighborhood. One of the suspects was “very remorseful” over disturbing his neighbors and was shocked to learn it was 3 a.m. There was no evidence that the shotgun had been fired, but officers said it appeared the young men were loading the shotgun, then racking out the shells. The officer “sternly admonished” the suspects for lighting off fireworks and handling a firearm while intoxicated, to which all three “were very apologetic and grateful for not having to go to jail.” Officers told the men to go to bed and clean up their mess in the morning, then took the shotgun and told the owner he could come pick it up on Monday, once he sobered up.

On Dec. 7 police responded to a medical marijuana dispensary burglary on the 5400 block of California Ave s.w. Around 5:30 a.m. a citizen noticed the back door of the business standing open and lights were on inside. Officers responded to the call and contacted the owners of the establishment. They went over the digital video recordings from overnight and found that two males had burglarized the joint. Suspect #1 was a white male, about 6 ft. tall, possibly in his 30s and wearing a light colored hat and trench coat. Suspect #2 was of unknown race, possibly in his 30s wearing a dark colored hat and trench coat. Suspect #1 helped himself to six vials of marijuana buds and some rolling papers. Suspect #2 went for 20 marijuana treats and a glass bong. A dusting revealed no usable fingerprints and the suspects are still outstanding.

Last week a house on the 8800 block of 10th Ave s.w. was thoroughly ransacked by an Asian suspect with short/balding hair wearing a long black coat and baggy jeans. The victim returned home around 5 p.m. and found her house in disarray. Every bedroom had been rifled through and the family safe (which was disguised as a wooden plant stand) was laying in the middle of the living room ajar. As the victim and responding officer inspected the house and compiled a list of missing items, the victim noticed several voice mails on the house phone. The messages were left by an unknown person with an Asian accent at 8:39 a.m., 9:49 a.m., 10:05 a.m. and 10:18 a.m. The unknown caller left the same message each time; saying hello and asking if anyone was there. The victim had left for work at 8:30 a.m. The description of the suspect came from a neighbor who saw the suspect come out of the house, jump the front fence and walk away, then come back a few minutes later in a dark blue or gray minivan. According to the police report, the neighbor “thought that since the guy was Asian then it was one of the family members or supposed to be at the house so he stopped watching.”

Burglaries/break-ins/car prowls by block: 5400/6500 California Ave SW, 5400 46th Ave SW, 9400 5th Ave SW, 8800/9000 35th Ave SW, 4500 36th Ave SW, 10000 47th Ave SW, 9000 25th Ave SW, 4500 42nd Ave SW, 9000 25th Ave SW, 5900 Beach Dr SW, 3900 SW Frontenac St, 4400 SW 102nd St, 8600 17th Ave SW, 8800 10th Ave SW, 700 S Henderson St, 1000 S Cloverdale St, 9000 14th Ave S

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