The Island Blotter

San Juan County Sheriff's Log — Powered by dad humor

Source: Islands Sounder

Week of Aug 12

A Lopez deputy evicted an unauthorized camper from the village park and connected them with services—proving that sometimes the best way to help someone is to tell them to pitch their tent elsewhere.

Aug 12, 2024 Other

Lopez residents reported hearing what sounded like large explosions from San Juan or the peninsula, which remains a mystery that's still going boom in our records.

Aug 12, 2024 Other
Week of Aug 5

An Orcas deputy found a wallet and booked it into evidence, giving new meaning to "checking your balance" at the station.

Aug 11, 2024 Other

A San Juan deputy responded to a report of lost property, which we assume has not yet been found, hence the "lost" part.

Aug 10, 2024 Other

The dog's owner received an at-large warning letter—consider it a gentle reminder that fences make good neighbors, and leashes make better dog owners.

Aug 9, 2024 Other
Week of Jan 22

An Eastsound deputy took a lost wallet report in Eastsound, because apparently even on an island, wallets still manage to go missing.

Jan 24, 2024 Eastsound Other
Week of Nov 28

A Lopez parent reported that their child was being repeatedly approached by an unfamiliar older man offering rides—a serious safety concern that law enforcement is actively investigating.

Nov 30, 2022 Other

An Orcas resident discovered that black ice is nature's way of saying "your car goes where it wants now" after sliding off the roadway.

Nov 30, 2022 Other
Week of Jul 4

A boater off San Juan got a BUI courtesy of another agency, who made the initial arrest and did most of the heavy lifting before handing off the case.

Jul 4, 2022 Other

The U.S. Coast Guard really knows how to make a splash in Roche Harbor—they detained a boat operator for BUI, proving that "staying afloat" means something very different when you're three sheets to the wind. Deputies took the individual into custody and transported them to San Juan County Jail, where the only thing they'll be navigating is their life choices.

Jul 4, 2022 Other

A San Juan deputy investigated a reported order violation and confirmed that yes, in fact, a court order had been violated, with the case now forwarded to the prosecutor.

Jul 4, 2022 Other

A San Juan resident discovered that court-ordered sobriety conditions and open containers don't mix, and neither does their breath sample with a citation.

Jul 4, 2022 Other
Week of Jan 31

A small child was spotted taking a solo jog down the road on Lopez, but the situation was quickly resolved when the child's mother was located and the pint-sized marathoner was returned home.

Jan 31, 2022 Other
Week of Jan 2

A Friday Harbor business became an unwilling knife storage facility when a transient asked them to hold his blade, so a deputy graciously offered to provide permanent custody.

Jan 8, 2017 Friday Harbor Other

A driver on Olga Road learned that one moving violation is a mistake, but multiple infractions is a collection hobby.

Jan 8, 2017 Olga Other

Local property owner successfully retrieved their belongings after the Sheriff's Office played real-estate detective and arranged the hand-off.

Jan 8, 2017 Other

A Friday Harbor deputy received a report of found property, and the owner subsequently made contact—case closed, property found, everyone goes home happy.

Jan 8, 2017 Friday Harbor Other

A Lopez juvenile driver learned an important lesson about school bus stop paddles: when they're up, you stay down—at least stopped—after being cited for passing an active school bus.

Jan 5, 2017 Other