Police blotter: Drunk driver questions officer’s use of “tonight”

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In this week’s blotter, a drunk driving suspect gets into a semantics debate with his arresting officer.

Plenty of things stolen from island homes this week, including a 17th-century heirloom gold necklace and a frozen chicken.

Blotter’s below….

Dec. 19
Drunk driving: A Bainbridge male was arrested for drunk driving on Wing Point Way just before 12:45 a.m. An officer had noticed the suspect’s vehicle traveling along Winslow Way with its headlights off. The vehicle also failed to stay in its lane as it headed north on Ferncliff Avenue. Once pulled over, the suspect immediately exited his vehicle and began staggering around. When the officer asked him to get back inside, the suspect responded “It’s easier this way.” When asked for his license and registration, the suspect walked around his vehicle and reentered through a passenger door. The officer again asked him to sit inside the vehicle. “It’s easier this way,” the suspect responded. The officer noted that the suspect had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. When asked “how much he had to drink tonight,” the suspect responded “What do you mean when you say tonight?” The officer then clarified his definition of “tonight” to mean on the current day, prior to driving. “Well, in that case I had a couple at an event at Wing Point Country Club.” He also mentioned visiting a “club” in Winslow. The suspect was taken to the county jail after failing a series of field sobriety tests.

Dec. 18
Theft: A frozen turkey and chicken were reported stolen from a Wing Point Way home. The food was taken while the resident was out of town. When he returned, he found that food had been removed from a chest freezer in his carport and strewn around his yard. The turkey and chicken were no where to be found.

Dec. 17
Assault: A Bainbridge male was arrested for shoving his girlfriend against a wall at their Shannon Drive home just before 2:45 p.m. A neighbor had called 911 after hearing screaming and a loud thump. The victim told police that she and the suspect had been arguing about the pan she was using to cook food. The suspect admitted he pushed the victim against the wall. He was taken to the county jail.

Runover: A Bainbridge woman accidentally ran over and severely injured her dog shortly after noon. She backed into the dog while exiting her Miller Road home’s driveway. The dog was trapped under the vehicle, with its weight pressing on the dog’s ribcage. The dog was bleeding from its mouth and was in emotional distress. Rescue units used a jack to lift the vehicle and free the dog. It was taken to an island animal hospital.

Dec. 15
Burglary: Jewelry, cash and electronic devices were stolen from an Olympus Beach Road home while its owners were out of town. One of the victims said a malfunctioning front door lock may have allowed entry. The most expensive piece of jewelry was an heirloom gold necklace estimated to be hundreds of years old.

Assault: A Bainbridge man reportedly pushed his wife to the floor at their Eagle Harbor Drive home shortly after 10 a.m. The victim said the suspect, who no longer lives with the victim, had demanded the keys for a vehicle. When the victim refused, the suspect shook her and pushed her. The victim suffered a minor injury to her wrist during the fall. The suspect fled on a motorcycle before police arrived. A report was forwarded to the prosecutor.

Dec. 13
Burglary: Several items were stolen from a Daniel Court home sometime during the night. The home’s occupants were asleep when the burglary occurred. The home’s doors were not locked. Missing items included five credit or money cards, a fanny pack, a fake fur coat and a small amount of cash.

Bite: A Bainbridge female as bitten by a dog while she rode a bicycle on Woodbank Drive just after 9:30 a.m. The dog, a Jack Russell terrier, bit her leg, causing bruising and a small cut. The dog’s owner said the dog has never bitten anyone before. A report was sent to animal control.

Burglary: A purse containing cash and credit cards was stolen from a North Madison Avenue home sometime during the night or morning. The owner thinks her door was locked.