Coulee Cops

Grand Coulee

Police

8/31 - A hospital employee told police that someone had cut the fence to gain entry to “the bull pen,” a fenced in parking area, and taken the catalytic converters off two vehicles. Police photographed the scene, including where the converters were cut off. They are estimated to be worth $700 to $1,500 apiece, but Jess Ford estimated the cost to fix the vehicles at about $5,000. Police also left a message at Coulee Recycling asking if any converters had been brought in. The next day, Jess Ford reported converters cut off two vehicles, including one  also in a fenced area. Police found two knives and a Sawzall blade, which they collected to look for fingerprints.

- Police checked on a dog named Medusa in a residence on Main Street. People were concerned about the dog because they thought the resident had completely moved out, with witnesses noting she had left in a U-Haul. Police were given permission to enter by the building owner and saw that the dog was there along with two cats. There was dog food and water, which the officers topped off. They determined that the animals were not in danger. There was still furniture in the residence and so police determined the woman had not completely moved out yet. 

- Police responded to Bowen Street where a man said he left his home for a few hours, returned, saw his window ajar, and his carpet completely wet, with a hose of his moved, as well. Nothing was missing.

9/3 - A Young Street woman reported a fraud. She explained that Varo Bank held a legitimate sweepstakes online. Shortly after entering the sweepstakes, $459.48 was transferred from her account to a person about whom nothing is known except an email address. The woman had screenshots of the sweepstakes details. She was given a case number and the bank’s fraud department is looking into it.

- Police spoke to a Main Street man after a report of hearing yelling and items being thrown at his residence. The man said he had been angry at people and told them to leave, which they did.

- A woman at Safeway told an officer that she was afraid “sketchy” people in the parking lot would follow her home. The officer told her that “sketchy” wasn’t a crime.

9/4 - A man on Continental Heights told police that a woman he had messaged on Facebook but had never met said she was being forced to have sex with people. Police reviewed the messages, many of them pornographic in nature, and determined the woman was scamming the man out of money. The man had sent the person money before, and police told him not to, that it was a scam. This time the person was requesting money to be let go by captors.

- Someone reported sounds of someone trying to break into the former school at Spokane Way and Center Street. Police observed a broken window and piece of plywood removed, but nowhere that someone could have gained entry into the building.

9/5 - Police spoke to a man attempting to break into a truck at Coulee Playland. The truck belonged to the man. His license was suspended, but he said someone else would drive once he got inside. He said he would probably break a window. Police told him to clean up the mess afterwards. 

- Police spoke to an Ephrata man at the Grand Coulee Dam Visitors Center who was digging in his car and in the garbage. He had lost his keys somehow. Police didn’t smell any intoxicants on him or in the car. It didn’t make sense to police why the man would be looking in the trunk of the car because of the improbability of the keys getting there so soon after being in the ignition. Police suggested he go to the casino where his parents could see if they had a spare, or that the car may need to get towed.

- Police went to Highland Street in Elmer City. A Coulee Dam officer was there responding to an incident until tribal police could arrive. The Coulee Dam officer was bit by a dog, later said by the owner to have had its shots. Once the Grand Coulee officer arrived, the Coulee Dam officer went to the hospital. The Grand Coulee officer spoke to a man who had allegedly violated probation terms by drinking alcohol. While speaking to him, the man said something about his blood pressure, then collapsed to the ground. He threatened to beat up the officer if the officer called medics. The officer called medics, and the man was taken to the hospital.

- Police responded to a report of a man who was paranoid that people were in his Dill Avenue residence and under the bed. Police checked the home and no one was there. 

- Police spoke to a Grand Coulee Avenue man who was upset about a deer damaging a wire fence. The man was upset that neighbors feed the deer. Police explained that nothing illegal had occurred, and suggested he contact Fish & Wildlife.

9/6 - Children were reported as being loud and playing basketball on Jackson Avenue. Police told the kids to keep the noise to a minimum and they said they understood.

- Police spoke to a man who refused to wear a mask at the King’s Court laundromat and had been asked to leave. Police explained the masks requirement in Washington, and the man said he understood. Police gave him a mask and he was allowed to finish his laundry.

- Police were unable to locate a man reported to be driving while high on meth. They later received another call from the 4-corners gas station. The man was there, sweating and looking around frantically as if worried about someone or something. He had said at the gas station that someone had been in his car, and that someone with a gun was after him. The man didn’t have further details and declined a ride to the hospital. There was no one in the man’s car. He was later contacted at the King’s Court laundromat, where he had banged on the door and said he had been shot. Police saw the man with multiple wounds and bleeding. Police found out the man had jumped through his window on Dill Avenue, and also trespassed through a neighbor’s yard where dogs had bit him. He was taken to the hospital for his wounds.

Coulee Dam

Police

9/1- Police pulled a car over near River Drive and Crest Avenue for speeding and found the driver was unlicensed. The officer had the passenger, who had a license, take over driving.