Coulee Cops

1/17 - An officer told a traveling panhandler at Safeway that Grand Coulee had no services for him and that there was no safe place for him to sleep with the cold weather. The officer informed him of a free bus going to Moses Lake or Ephrata and gave him a courtesy ride to the casino to wait for the bus. Casino employees assured the officer they would help make sure he got onto the bus when it arrived.

- An officer responded to a call that a woman in the lobby of the hospital was acting crazy and that she had previously been banned from the property. Hospital security had escorted her and convinced her to leave prior to police arrival.

- Police responded to a call from a woman who reported she had locked herself out of her Jackson Avenue home. Her two kids were with her in a warm car. Officer checked all windows to see if they were locked, then advised the woman to call her landlord before breaking a door or window to gain access.

- An officer responded to a report of threats at the Trail West Motel and was greeted by an intoxicated man who said a female traveling with him had threatened him and his business. The woman did not appear intoxicated and said the man was mad because she asked him to take her back to Tacoma because of a recent death in the family. The man advised they would be OK and were just going to go to bed.

- A street light on SR 155 with a “Welcome to Coulee Dam” sign had been struck, causing it to fall, partially blocking the northbound lane. USBR was notified and removed it from the roadway. Estimated damage is $2,000. A black Chevy Blazer is suspected of striking the pole before heading south on SR-155.

- A woman living in an apartment on Hill Street advised police that a child had been crying for hours in a neighboring apartment. Knocking loudly, the officer could hear the child through an open window. Finally a man came downstairs appearing very tired and stated the baby does not like being in her playpen. The man brought down the baby, who stopped crying and appeared to be OK. The man stated he just wanted to go back to bed.

1/18 - A loud bang on Second Street may have only been a neighbor starting his vehicle. Police continued checking the area with no sound heard.

- A man with an expired registration was found to be wanted on a warrant and arrested. The vehicle was impounded after the dog in the vehicle was taken to the owner’s residence. The man was taken to the Grant County Jail.

- An officer responded to a report of threats in progress at Seaton Avenue in Grand Coulee, where a man said he had hired another man to help with a job, but he had only worked for one day. He said the worker then started sending text messages threatening the complainant and his family over money and tools. The complainant stated he had tried reasoning with him. The officer advised him to get a no-contact court order to protect himself and his family.

1/19 - Officers assisted a man whose vehicle was stuck in the snow. The man thanked the officers.

- Responding to a noise complaint, police found a man attempting to unfreeze the pipes in his trailer. The man said he would keep the noise down.

- Police assisted the U.S. Marshal’s office in picking up a fugitive from Florida. The man was apprehended without incident.

1/20 - A party reported to police that there was something in the feeder canal. Police couldn’t find anything unusual.

- Police received a report that students from Lake Roosevelt and Almira-Coulee-Hartline were going to meet on Martin Road to fight. The report was unfounded.

- Police responded to an alarm at a residence on Loma Lane, only to find a man who had entered the garage with permission to get a snow blower to clean the driveway.

1/21 - Police were called to the High Dam Tavern on Main Street after a female customer had ordered a beer and put money on the bar to pay for it, later pocketed the money, then argued with the bartender and refused to leave when asked, police were told. The woman was gone when the officer arrived.

- USBR Plant Protection advised police that there were people fishing through the ice in a closed area. An officer asked the parties to leave and to take their trash with them.