Police blotter: Video game fight spills into reality

A vicious sibling rivalry spilled from the virtual world of the X-Box to the real world of a Winslow apartment complex. With the game over, the brothers dropped their controllers and bent their callused thumbs and sweaty fingers into real-life fists. The fight ended as many brother vs. brother fights do: with a headlock and a “had enough?” Rather than earn bonus points and promotion to the next level, the victorious brother was taken to the county jail.

Also this week, more details in the screw driver stabbing at the Rolling Bay auto repair shop. Looks like the mechanic held his own pretty well, knocking his 6’3 assailant to the ground with several punches to the head.

June 13
Assault: A 20-year-old Bainbridge man was arrested for assaulting his brother at a Tormey Lane residence just before 8 p.m. The pair began arguing after one defeated the other in a video game that simulates fighting. One of the brothers broke a game controller when he threw it to the ground after losing. The suspect then punched the victim in the head and put him in a headlock. The suspect asked if the victim “had enough.” The victim answered in the affirmative, ran to a phone and called police. The suspect complained of pain in his knuckles. He and the victim were cleared by medics. The suspect was transported to the county jail. Damage to the video game was estimated at $55.

Theft: Stereo equipment was reported stolen from a locked truck on Yaquina Avenue sometime during the night. Damage to the truck included a broken passenger window, pry marks on the sunroof and the driver’s door. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $1,000. Stolen items, valued at $200, included a CD player and two speakers.

Assault: A 47-year-old Bainbridge man was arrested for punching his fiance at their Moji Lane home shortly after midnight. According to the victim, the suspect became enraged after she expressed displeasure in his lack of tidiness. The suspect went to a bedroom and she began watching TV downstairs. He sent her a text message ordering her to come to bed. When she refused, the suspect became angry and insulting. She pushed his face when he approached her in an aggressive manner. He responded by punching her in the lip with enough force to knock her to the ground. The suspect took her cell phone away when she tried to call 911. “Don’t call the cops,” he reportedly said. He then tried to prevent her from leaving until she said “I love you.” The victim complied with the request and then fled the home. Police noted that the victim’s lip was swollen and bloody. The suspect admitted to having punched the victim and was transported to the county jail. He was also cited for interfering with the reporting of a domestic violence incident.

June 12
Theft: A Yaquina Avenue resident reported that a bag of coins containing an estimated $500 was stolen from her kitchen sometime during the last 24 hours. Police are investigating three suspects.

June 10
Stabbed: A 27-year-old Bainbridge man was arrested for stabbing an employee of Rolling Bay Automotive on Sunrise Drive just before midnight. The victim, a 35-year-old Poulsbo resident, called 911 to report his injury and the assault. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries, including puncture wounds on his abdomen and chest, and several wounds on his right hand. He told police that he was working on a vehicle while the customer and her boyfriend, the suspect, watched. The victim told the suspect to put out his cigarette while he was in the garage and near a vehicle that was leaking gasoline. When he refused, the victim took the cigarette from his fingers and extinguished it. The suspect immediately began stabbing at him with a screw driver. The victim hit the suspect several times until he suspect fell to the floor. After more tussling, the victim dialed 911 from a shop phone. The suspect approached again but the victim warded him off by cocking back his fist. The suspect fled in a Ford pickup truck and was apprehended by police at the intersection of Day Road and Highway 305. Police noted that the shop smelled of marijuana and gasoline. A large puddle of gasoline and several cigarette butts were found on the floor. Ten cans of beer and a bottle of whiskey were found empty at the shop. The victim said he’d drank about six beers. The victim initially declined medical attention but was later taken to a hospital by a friend.

Arson: A group of juveniles caused a small grass fire near a Madison Avenue business shortly after 5 p.m. Witnesses said they saw the juveniles lighting a pile of fluffy seed pods. A fire crew put out the flames, which damaged a small patch of grass but no structures. The suspects were seen running toward the Pavilion. They were not apprehended or identified.

Theft: A large food processor valued at $600 was stolen from a school kitchen on High School Road sometime during the night. There were no signs of forced entry.

Indecent: A Bainbridge woman reported that a man made strange sexual advances toward her on a trail near Baker Hill Road. The suspect, who was hiding in bushes, asked if the victim was a woman. When she responded in the affirmative, the man expressed a desire to have sex with her. She ignored him and walked on.