Crime in Wrangell
When I was first considering moving to Alaska to take this job as newspaper reporter at the Wrangell Sentinel, the owner sent me some back issues for me to look through. I remember seeing items that amused me so much I was immediately endeared to the town. For instance, in Classifieds/Legals, under the Announcements heading, there read, “I KNOW WHO YOU ARE … If you try to steal my scrap steel again you will be arrested.” It turns out the person who put that announcement in is the landlord of the newspaper office. He’s what Alaskans would call a ‘sourdough’ – a crusty, old man who’s lived here his whole life.
Since actually moving here and writing for the paper, I’ve stopped reading it. When the delivery comes Thursday morning, I’ll grab a copy, look through it quickly to see if my articles are there, and that’s about it. I don’t read the items that amused me a couple of months ago when I was reading them in New York. At water aerobics last night, I was reminded about the how funny the police report is when someone told me how she calls her sister in the lower 48 to read it to her. Here are some items from the Police Report from our January 5 issue:
Monday, December 19
-Trespass: Report of a woman telling another not to come onto her property any more.
-Obscene phone calls: Report of obscene phone calls being made to the local bars, under investigation.
-Phone trace: Report of a man receiving threatening phone calls and requested a trace be placed on his phone. Under investigation.
Tuesday, December 20
-Phone trace: Obscene phone calls at Brig Bar.
Wednesday, December 21
-Vehicle in roadway: Vehicle does not run and is halfway in the street. Trying to assist owner in moving it.
-Caller stated they are having problems with a renter not paying rent. Officer suggested they go through the court.
Thursday, December 22
-Citizen assist: Caller reported seeing a lot of smoke coming from a boat at Reliance Dock. Officer responded and found a woodstove on a small boat.
Friday, December 23
-Suspicious circumstance: Report of person yelling “help,” just kids playing around.
-Possible juvenile party: Report of a party with approximately 45 juveniles drinking. Search and Rescue was requested to assist in shuttling persons from the cabin which was located on the Spur Road.
-Traffic Stop/trespass warning: Verbal warning given to driver for being at the shooting range after dark.
Saturday, December 24
-Criminal trespass: Call from the Marine stating a man was refusing to leave, man left before officer arrived.
Sunday, December 25
-Noise disturbance: Report of a man repeating “Ho-Ho-Ho” loudly outside a residence on Case Avenue, man was gone before officer arrived. (*Personal favorite)
-Disturbance/suspicious circumstance: Possible intoxicated persons making noise outside an apartment building, officer gave courtesy transport home.
Tuesday, December 27
-Citizen assist: Officer observed open door on a vehicle and items strewn about the inside of the vehicle. Owner contacted and all was okay, he just left the vehicle that way.
-Citizen assist: Request for an officer to stand-by while a woman checked on an elderly woman who was not answering her phone or yells at the door. She was okay, just sleeping hard.
-Citizen assist/courtesy transport: Report of a couple walking on the Spur Road that had vehicle trouble. Officer gave them a ride to a relative’s house so they could get some gas for their vehicle.
Thursday, December 29
-Suspicious persons: Report of two male juveniles running from the area of Salvation Army Church. Males were just leaving a sleepover.
Friday, December 30
-Suspicious person: Officer observed a person walking out from the area of the dog pound. The person was looking for wood to cut.
-Suspicious person: Three persons at the end of the Spur Road by the gate appeared suspicious, however they were just changing the brake fluid on a vehicle.
-Emotionally disturbed person/citizen assist: Report of a woman acting disoriented in several businesses downtown.
-Theft: Report of a sign stolen from Stikine Drug, under investigation.
Saturday, December 31
-Criminal trespass/911: Call from the Marine asking for an officer because a man refused to leave. Gone on arrival.
-Citizen assist: Report of a woman crying for help. Woman was intoxicated trying to get into her residence, all okay.
Since actually moving here and writing for the paper, I’ve stopped reading it. When the delivery comes Thursday morning, I’ll grab a copy, look through it quickly to see if my articles are there, and that’s about it. I don’t read the items that amused me a couple of months ago when I was reading them in New York. At water aerobics last night, I was reminded about the how funny the police report is when someone told me how she calls her sister in the lower 48 to read it to her. Here are some items from the Police Report from our January 5 issue:
Monday, December 19
-Trespass: Report of a woman telling another not to come onto her property any more.
-Obscene phone calls: Report of obscene phone calls being made to the local bars, under investigation.
-Phone trace: Report of a man receiving threatening phone calls and requested a trace be placed on his phone. Under investigation.
Tuesday, December 20
-Phone trace: Obscene phone calls at Brig Bar.
Wednesday, December 21
-Vehicle in roadway: Vehicle does not run and is halfway in the street. Trying to assist owner in moving it.
-Caller stated they are having problems with a renter not paying rent. Officer suggested they go through the court.
Thursday, December 22
-Citizen assist: Caller reported seeing a lot of smoke coming from a boat at Reliance Dock. Officer responded and found a woodstove on a small boat.
Friday, December 23
-Suspicious circumstance: Report of person yelling “help,” just kids playing around.
-Possible juvenile party: Report of a party with approximately 45 juveniles drinking. Search and Rescue was requested to assist in shuttling persons from the cabin which was located on the Spur Road.
-Traffic Stop/trespass warning: Verbal warning given to driver for being at the shooting range after dark.
Saturday, December 24
-Criminal trespass: Call from the Marine stating a man was refusing to leave, man left before officer arrived.
Sunday, December 25
-Noise disturbance: Report of a man repeating “Ho-Ho-Ho” loudly outside a residence on Case Avenue, man was gone before officer arrived. (*Personal favorite)
-Disturbance/suspicious circumstance: Possible intoxicated persons making noise outside an apartment building, officer gave courtesy transport home.
Tuesday, December 27
-Citizen assist: Officer observed open door on a vehicle and items strewn about the inside of the vehicle. Owner contacted and all was okay, he just left the vehicle that way.
-Citizen assist: Request for an officer to stand-by while a woman checked on an elderly woman who was not answering her phone or yells at the door. She was okay, just sleeping hard.
-Citizen assist/courtesy transport: Report of a couple walking on the Spur Road that had vehicle trouble. Officer gave them a ride to a relative’s house so they could get some gas for their vehicle.
Thursday, December 29
-Suspicious persons: Report of two male juveniles running from the area of Salvation Army Church. Males were just leaving a sleepover.
Friday, December 30
-Suspicious person: Officer observed a person walking out from the area of the dog pound. The person was looking for wood to cut.
-Suspicious person: Three persons at the end of the Spur Road by the gate appeared suspicious, however they were just changing the brake fluid on a vehicle.
-Emotionally disturbed person/citizen assist: Report of a woman acting disoriented in several businesses downtown.
-Theft: Report of a sign stolen from Stikine Drug, under investigation.
Saturday, December 31
-Criminal trespass/911: Call from the Marine asking for an officer because a man refused to leave. Gone on arrival.
-Citizen assist: Report of a woman crying for help. Woman was intoxicated trying to get into her residence, all okay.
posted by Siapiau | 10:41 AM
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