The two most interesting reports in today's Northern Light involve, as you might have guessed by the title, DUI charges. I know I usually come up with some sort of clever title for these posts, but I think this one most clearly captures the theme of today's reports.
Fortunately, no one involved in any of these cases was seriously injured.
The first report occurred on Thursday, October 21. While on patrol, a Blaine police officer spotted a car weaving back and forth across both lanes while driving north on Peace Portal Drive in downtown Blaine. The officer pulled the car over and initiated a rather interesting discussion with the driver.
In response to the officer's question on why the driver was weaving across both lanes, the driver replied, "Because I'm buzzed." When asked how much he had had to drink, the young man answered, "A lot." Both clearly the best answers to any such questions from police.
The officer conducted a roadside sobriety test on the man and confirmed he was telling the truth about his condition. The 21-year-old Lynden resident was released to his parents after being charged with driving under the influence.
The second report happened on Friday, October 22, not far from the Blaine high school football game. On Friday evening officers responded to a call about someone who appeared to be injured lying in the middle of Boblett Street near the Blaine primary school. Blaine police arrived and found an 18-year-old being tended to by his friends. After some interviews, officers gained a more complete understanding of what had transpired.
Apparently, the teen lying in the street had been hanging out the front passenger window of his friend's car attempting to fix the antenna. He fell out when his friend lost his grip on his feet. Now, this would not generally be considered a bad idea if it weren't for two things: the driver appeared to be intoxicated, and the car was moving.
The driver let go of his friend's feet to avoid hitting a quickly approaching power pole. The car avoided the solid hunk of wood, but apparently the amateur antenna repairman did not. After the injured teen was taken to the hospital, the driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, and the third 18-year-old passenger was arrested on suspicion of being a minor in possession of alcohol. Similar charges are apparently awaiting the injured teen's release from the hospital.
So, as if there weren't millions of other reasons to avoid the pastime: don't drink and drive.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Hunting Bigfoot Update: My First Contact
Before I get anyone's hopes up, I don't mean my first contact with the mythical beast known as bigfoot. If that did happen, the first place I turn to would most likely not be my blog but rather my apartment for a change of pants.
Today I got an e-mail from a woman calling herself Vilnoori (she asked her real identity be hidden). She seems to be a regular participant on the Bigfoot Forums. She found my work e-mail address on a post I had made there asking for people in the Mt. Baker to talk to about bigfoot. Her e-mail to me concisely and clearly explained an alleged bigfoot experience she had had in a wooded area near Sumas, Washington, which is about half an hour east of Blaine. She even included photos.
She told me that a few years ago on a walk in the woods near Sumas, she came across some (to her eyes, at least) larger-than-human footprints in the mud and a few large broken branches. She said the larger of the two footprints was 17 inches long and the smaller was about 10 inches. While in this area, she also heard a strange humming sound she described as like that "...made by a large child inside a hollow culvert." She also found a tree that had been pushed over and a collection of small pebbles piled up in a nearby creek.
While she admitted she was on the fence about the existence of bigfoot, she did offer a possible explanation for the scene she came across. She suspected it might have been a play area of sorts for a young bigfoot accompanied by its mother, thus explaining the varying sizes of footprint and the broken branches.
The photos she included in the e-mail, while appreciated, didn't really show much of anything. The size of the human-like footprints was unclear, and the pile of pebbles in the stream was out of focus. I sent her an e-mail asking some questions about the circumstances of her discovery. I eagerly await her reply.
To sum up, Vilnoori seems to have seen something she did not immediately understand and has done her best to explain it given the available information. That's really all anyone can ask of someone who has experienced something unusual. Her story is not proof of bigfoot living in the area by any means, but I appreciate that she made the effort to come to me and say: I don't know what this, here's what I think, and here are some pictures. I hope everyone I meet while researching this story is as helpful and reasonable as she has been.
Today I got an e-mail from a woman calling herself Vilnoori (she asked her real identity be hidden). She seems to be a regular participant on the Bigfoot Forums. She found my work e-mail address on a post I had made there asking for people in the Mt. Baker to talk to about bigfoot. Her e-mail to me concisely and clearly explained an alleged bigfoot experience she had had in a wooded area near Sumas, Washington, which is about half an hour east of Blaine. She even included photos.
She told me that a few years ago on a walk in the woods near Sumas, she came across some (to her eyes, at least) larger-than-human footprints in the mud and a few large broken branches. She said the larger of the two footprints was 17 inches long and the smaller was about 10 inches. While in this area, she also heard a strange humming sound she described as like that "...made by a large child inside a hollow culvert." She also found a tree that had been pushed over and a collection of small pebbles piled up in a nearby creek.
While she admitted she was on the fence about the existence of bigfoot, she did offer a possible explanation for the scene she came across. She suspected it might have been a play area of sorts for a young bigfoot accompanied by its mother, thus explaining the varying sizes of footprint and the broken branches.
The photos she included in the e-mail, while appreciated, didn't really show much of anything. The size of the human-like footprints was unclear, and the pile of pebbles in the stream was out of focus. I sent her an e-mail asking some questions about the circumstances of her discovery. I eagerly await her reply.
To sum up, Vilnoori seems to have seen something she did not immediately understand and has done her best to explain it given the available information. That's really all anyone can ask of someone who has experienced something unusual. Her story is not proof of bigfoot living in the area by any means, but I appreciate that she made the effort to come to me and say: I don't know what this, here's what I think, and here are some pictures. I hope everyone I meet while researching this story is as helpful and reasonable as she has been.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Hunting Bigfoot: The Journey Begins
Before I begin discussing the search for an allegedly extant bipedal primate in the forests of my adoptive home of Washington, I want to make one thing clear: I am a skeptic when it comes to bigfoot. Hell, I'm a skeptic when it comes to anything for which their is scant or no evidence. The existence of the "paranormal" would indeed be interesting, but I, like many others, need some hard evidence to back up the host of paranormal claims out there.
With that said, I have had an interest in the cultural phenomenon known as bigfoot since I was child. It's that interest and a recent assignment at work that have lead me to write this post.
Point Roberts Press, the publishers of The Northern Light, also puts out a quarterly publication called Mount Baker Experience, which covers outdoor-type activities in the Mt. Baker foothills area. Our Winter 2011 issue is coming up, and I pitched the loosely formed idea of writing an article about bigfoot hunting in the foothills area.
The point of this post and subsequent ones is to keep the audience of this blog, if there is one, updated on the status of this particular story. I am doing this for the bigfoot article because the topic and those intent on finding the creature are of particular interest to me. So, without further ado, here's what I've done so far.
My search first brought me to BigfootForums.com, an online forum where all manner of bigfoot-interested folk can come and discuss sightings of the creature all across the U.S. and dish on investigative techniques and equipment. My first cursory perusing of this site turned up pretty much what I expected: people who genuinely believe something is out there and have devoted varying sections of there lives to finding out what it is.
From this site I became aware of a book published in 1995 called "Where Bigfoot Walks: Crossing the dark Divide," which is about a rather well-known encounter with a group of alleged bigfoots (bigfeet?) near Mt. St. Helens in the early 1900s. At least it seems to be, I have yet to read it. The author, Robert Michael Pyle, still lives in Washington and runs The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. I sent an e-mail to the group's e-mail address asking for contacts for any bigfoot "investigators" in the Mt. Baker area. I have yet to see a reply.
Further investigation of the Bigfoot Forums lead me to the Washington Sasquatch Research Team based in the Mt. Rainier area. I e-mailed Steve Schauer, one of the founding Steves of the WSRT, about research and sightings in the Mt. Baker area. He said he did not know of any groups poking around on Mt. Baker and that his group sticks to Mt. Rainier.
Long story short, I have not made much headway for this story. Hopefully the weeks to come will provide me with some usable leads.
With that said, I have had an interest in the cultural phenomenon known as bigfoot since I was child. It's that interest and a recent assignment at work that have lead me to write this post.
Point Roberts Press, the publishers of The Northern Light, also puts out a quarterly publication called Mount Baker Experience, which covers outdoor-type activities in the Mt. Baker foothills area. Our Winter 2011 issue is coming up, and I pitched the loosely formed idea of writing an article about bigfoot hunting in the foothills area.
The point of this post and subsequent ones is to keep the audience of this blog, if there is one, updated on the status of this particular story. I am doing this for the bigfoot article because the topic and those intent on finding the creature are of particular interest to me. So, without further ado, here's what I've done so far.
My search first brought me to BigfootForums.com, an online forum where all manner of bigfoot-interested folk can come and discuss sightings of the creature all across the U.S. and dish on investigative techniques and equipment. My first cursory perusing of this site turned up pretty much what I expected: people who genuinely believe something is out there and have devoted varying sections of there lives to finding out what it is.
From this site I became aware of a book published in 1995 called "Where Bigfoot Walks: Crossing the dark Divide," which is about a rather well-known encounter with a group of alleged bigfoots (bigfeet?) near Mt. St. Helens in the early 1900s. At least it seems to be, I have yet to read it. The author, Robert Michael Pyle, still lives in Washington and runs The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. I sent an e-mail to the group's e-mail address asking for contacts for any bigfoot "investigators" in the Mt. Baker area. I have yet to see a reply.
Further investigation of the Bigfoot Forums lead me to the Washington Sasquatch Research Team based in the Mt. Rainier area. I e-mailed Steve Schauer, one of the founding Steves of the WSRT, about research and sightings in the Mt. Baker area. He said he did not know of any groups poking around on Mt. Baker and that his group sticks to Mt. Rainier.
Long story short, I have not made much headway for this story. Hopefully the weeks to come will provide me with some usable leads.
Thursday Police Report: Hot for Teacher and Crab Walk
This week's police report provided two items of interest. The first event took place on Thursday, October 14, in the halls of learning known as Blaine high school, though the police report is dated October 15. For some reason, administrators at the high school waited a day to call in this little gem.
The high school reported that on Thursday a 15-year-old student had used a bottle of spray-on cologne in a way the manufacturers probably did not intended. The boy allegedly doused a backpack in the smelly substance and set the bag blaze all while in the confines of his classroom with fellow students watching. Spray-on cologne, like most things that come in an aerosol can, is flammable.
The school did not report any damage to personnel or property. Police conducted an investigation on October 15 by interviewing the student and other witnesses. The school has taken administrative action, and the police have sent a report to juvenile prosecutors. The boy could be charged with reckless endangerment and reckless burning.
The second police report of note was fortunately a little less dangerous. Shortly before midnight on Saturday, October 16, police came across a man walking along Peace Portal Drive in Blaine carrying a large stainless steel cooking pot. What bit of illegality the police thought the man was going to commit with the piece of kitchenware is unknown.
The police discovered upon stopping that man that the pot was filled with cooked crab. The man was apparently enjoying a harmless, if a tad unusual, midnight snack as he wandered the streets. The traveler did have outstanding warrants against him, but they were from other counties meaning Blaine police could not arrest him.
The man was allowed to finish his crustacean feast in peace.
The high school reported that on Thursday a 15-year-old student had used a bottle of spray-on cologne in a way the manufacturers probably did not intended. The boy allegedly doused a backpack in the smelly substance and set the bag blaze all while in the confines of his classroom with fellow students watching. Spray-on cologne, like most things that come in an aerosol can, is flammable.
The school did not report any damage to personnel or property. Police conducted an investigation on October 15 by interviewing the student and other witnesses. The school has taken administrative action, and the police have sent a report to juvenile prosecutors. The boy could be charged with reckless endangerment and reckless burning.
The second police report of note was fortunately a little less dangerous. Shortly before midnight on Saturday, October 16, police came across a man walking along Peace Portal Drive in Blaine carrying a large stainless steel cooking pot. What bit of illegality the police thought the man was going to commit with the piece of kitchenware is unknown.
The police discovered upon stopping that man that the pot was filled with cooked crab. The man was apparently enjoying a harmless, if a tad unusual, midnight snack as he wandered the streets. The traveler did have outstanding warrants against him, but they were from other counties meaning Blaine police could not arrest him.
The man was allowed to finish his crustacean feast in peace.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday Police Report: A Myriad Malfeasances
This week's edition provided not one, not two but four police reports that caught my eye and made me chuckle just a little on the inside. With an end to the preamble and no more ado, I present this week's offerings.
The first one occurred on Wednesday, October 6, with a woman who maybe should have tried just a little harder to pull one over on the Blaine police department. Police reportedly stopped her car after receiving information that she was driving with a suspended license. Once the officer pulled her over, the driver allegedly gave a false name. The officer was able to see through this rouse quite easily, though, because the name tag the woman was wearing on her blouse clearly displayed her true name; the name under which the car was registered.
After probably the shortest investigation into false identity ever, the officer arrested the 44-year-old Ferndale resident on suspicion of driving with a suspended license, obstructing an officer and other traffic citations. The car was impounded and the woman was booked into jail; presumably under her real name.
On Friday, October 8, a hunter from New Mexico was stopped at the border and asked if he was carrying any weapons.The man reported that he had been, that is until he decided to stash them in the bushes at the Blaine cemetery for safe keeping.
Canadian customs officials arranged for the man to meet with Blaine police at the cemetery to retrieve his weapons. After the rendezvous, police gave the man a warning and information on better places to store weapons, other than random shrubbery.
On that same day, Blaine police responded to a 5 a.m. call from a business on Peace Portal Drive that some possibly foul business could be afoot. Once on scene, police found that someone had left 55 dozen eggs on the doorstep of the business. An employee there said the business had not placed any such order.
After some further investigation, Blaine police were unable to find the rightful owners of the 660 tiny gifts. In the spirit of goodwill and charity, Blaine police and customs and border protection agents transported the eggs to the Blaine food bank.
Finally, on Saturday, October 9, Halloween reportedly came about 21 days too early for some store clerks collecting shopping carts in a store parking lot on H Street late in the evening. A yellow pickup truck carrying what appeared to be folks in goblin masks showed up and cruised the parking lot for a while, apparently to the dismay of the clerks trying to do their job. Blaine police were called, but the pickup reportedly fled before the mischief makers could be brought to justice. I sure would not want to be working that parking lot come Halloween night.
The first one occurred on Wednesday, October 6, with a woman who maybe should have tried just a little harder to pull one over on the Blaine police department. Police reportedly stopped her car after receiving information that she was driving with a suspended license. Once the officer pulled her over, the driver allegedly gave a false name. The officer was able to see through this rouse quite easily, though, because the name tag the woman was wearing on her blouse clearly displayed her true name; the name under which the car was registered.
After probably the shortest investigation into false identity ever, the officer arrested the 44-year-old Ferndale resident on suspicion of driving with a suspended license, obstructing an officer and other traffic citations. The car was impounded and the woman was booked into jail; presumably under her real name.
On Friday, October 8, a hunter from New Mexico was stopped at the border and asked if he was carrying any weapons.The man reported that he had been, that is until he decided to stash them in the bushes at the Blaine cemetery for safe keeping.
Canadian customs officials arranged for the man to meet with Blaine police at the cemetery to retrieve his weapons. After the rendezvous, police gave the man a warning and information on better places to store weapons, other than random shrubbery.
On that same day, Blaine police responded to a 5 a.m. call from a business on Peace Portal Drive that some possibly foul business could be afoot. Once on scene, police found that someone had left 55 dozen eggs on the doorstep of the business. An employee there said the business had not placed any such order.
After some further investigation, Blaine police were unable to find the rightful owners of the 660 tiny gifts. In the spirit of goodwill and charity, Blaine police and customs and border protection agents transported the eggs to the Blaine food bank.
Finally, on Saturday, October 9, Halloween reportedly came about 21 days too early for some store clerks collecting shopping carts in a store parking lot on H Street late in the evening. A yellow pickup truck carrying what appeared to be folks in goblin masks showed up and cruised the parking lot for a while, apparently to the dismay of the clerks trying to do their job. Blaine police were called, but the pickup reportedly fled before the mischief makers could be brought to justice. I sure would not want to be working that parking lot come Halloween night.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Thursday police report will be late
I know it's pretty early for me to delay the Thursday Police Reports, since I just started them two weeks ago, but I was incredibly busy today and not able to post it.
Look for it tonight or early tomorrow morning. Maybe I'll call it the late edition.
Look for it tonight or early tomorrow morning. Maybe I'll call it the late edition.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Dwight Clark Update: Autopsy Completed
According to a press release from the city of Bellingham, an autopsy has been completed on the body of Dwight Clark, the Western student who had been missing since Sept. 26. Through dental records and other identifying methods, the results have confirmed the identity of the body as Clark.
The autopsy revealed that the body appeared to have been in the water, where it was found, the entire time Clark was missing and that the death occurred in the water. The body did not appear to have any external or internal injuries, and there were no signs of inflicted trauma.
The finalization of the autopsy, which will include a toxicology of the body and official cause of death report, will occur within the next six to eight weeks.
The autopsy revealed that the body appeared to have been in the water, where it was found, the entire time Clark was missing and that the death occurred in the water. The body did not appear to have any external or internal injuries, and there were no signs of inflicted trauma.
The finalization of the autopsy, which will include a toxicology of the body and official cause of death report, will occur within the next six to eight weeks.
Thursday Police Report: Teenage Indiscretions
Two smaller police reports from The Northern Light today, both involving teenagers having things on their person that really should not have been there.
The first one happened on Friday, Oct. 1. Blaine police contacted a 17-year-old smoking a cigarette on a street just north of downtown Blaine. The police wanted to know more about the teen's illegal possession of a pack of cigarettes; they had no idea he was also in possession of something else.
As the teenager removed the pack of smokes from his pants pocket, a tablet of ecstasy accompanied the cigarettes on their journey. Police tested the tablet on-site and secured it as evidence. The teenager was booked into Whatcom County's juvenile detention facility on investigation of felony drug possession.
The second report happened on Monday, Oct. 4, and tells the story of an 18-year-old who felt the need for some urgent hair care, apparently. The teenager was stopped by the security guard of a local convenience store as she was on her way out. She was allegedly carrying bottles of shampoo, conditioner and mousse; all of which she allegedly had no intention of paying for.
A Blaine police officer arrived at the store and arrested the teen on suspicion of shoplifting. She was later released with a court date. The pilfered hair products were returned to the store, unharmed.
The first one happened on Friday, Oct. 1. Blaine police contacted a 17-year-old smoking a cigarette on a street just north of downtown Blaine. The police wanted to know more about the teen's illegal possession of a pack of cigarettes; they had no idea he was also in possession of something else.
As the teenager removed the pack of smokes from his pants pocket, a tablet of ecstasy accompanied the cigarettes on their journey. Police tested the tablet on-site and secured it as evidence. The teenager was booked into Whatcom County's juvenile detention facility on investigation of felony drug possession.
The second report happened on Monday, Oct. 4, and tells the story of an 18-year-old who felt the need for some urgent hair care, apparently. The teenager was stopped by the security guard of a local convenience store as she was on her way out. She was allegedly carrying bottles of shampoo, conditioner and mousse; all of which she allegedly had no intention of paying for.
A Blaine police officer arrived at the store and arrested the teen on suspicion of shoplifting. She was later released with a court date. The pilfered hair products were returned to the store, unharmed.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
BREAKING: Body Found Near Bellingham Waterfront is Dwight Clark
According to a press release sent out by the City of Bellingham, police have confirmed a body found off a dock near the old Georgia Pacific plant in Bellingham this morning is that of missing Western student Dwight Clark.
The press release stated identification found on the body confirmed Clark's identity. The body, which was removed from the water at noon today, was found by a contractor in a small boat doing work for the Port of Bellingham. The body appeared as though it had been in the water for several days.
The Bellingham Herald as already posted something on this most recent development. The identify of the body has not been medically confirmed, and Clark's family has not released any statements on the discovery.
The press release stated identification found on the body confirmed Clark's identity. The body, which was removed from the water at noon today, was found by a contractor in a small boat doing work for the Port of Bellingham. The body appeared as though it had been in the water for several days.
The Bellingham Herald as already posted something on this most recent development. The identify of the body has not been medically confirmed, and Clark's family has not released any statements on the discovery.
Dwight Clark is Missing
I know I'm rather late to the party with this blog post about a missing Western student named Dwight Clark, but I figured since this is indeed happening between Bellingham and Blaine it deserves to be on my blog.
I will attempt to summarize the concrete information that exists about Clark's disappearance, which has been gleaned from the Bellingham Herald and my alma mater's student-run newspaper, The Western Front.
Clark allegedly disappeared in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 26 after walking back from a party on Indian Street, north of Western's campus. A reportedly prolific text-message sender, Clark has sent no text messages from his phone since 2 a.m. on Sept. 26. That's just more than a week ago.
Extensive searches by Bellingham Police and volunteers of the downtown area of Bellingham have turned up no clues to his disappearance. Police at this point have no reason to suspect foul play, and have officially called off their search efforts. They are continuing to follow up on leads and pursue the matter with their detectives. Volunteers, family and friends continue to organize search parties in attempts to find Clark.
In the most recent developments, the Front reported on a man who was seen on the evening of Oct. 4 scribbling a disturbing message on a flyer announcing Clark's disappearance. The message alluded to Clark's death after being stabbed. According to the Front, Bellingham Police say the man is not a viable suspect.
A well-written summary of Clark's disappearance and the subsequent search efforts published in the Front, with input from his roommates and family, can be found here.
Support can be offered to Clark's family and friends through the FIND Dwight Clark Facebook page. Anyone with any information regarding the disappearance should contact the Bellingham Police Department.
I will attempt to summarize the concrete information that exists about Clark's disappearance, which has been gleaned from the Bellingham Herald and my alma mater's student-run newspaper, The Western Front.
Clark allegedly disappeared in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 26 after walking back from a party on Indian Street, north of Western's campus. A reportedly prolific text-message sender, Clark has sent no text messages from his phone since 2 a.m. on Sept. 26. That's just more than a week ago.
Extensive searches by Bellingham Police and volunteers of the downtown area of Bellingham have turned up no clues to his disappearance. Police at this point have no reason to suspect foul play, and have officially called off their search efforts. They are continuing to follow up on leads and pursue the matter with their detectives. Volunteers, family and friends continue to organize search parties in attempts to find Clark.
In the most recent developments, the Front reported on a man who was seen on the evening of Oct. 4 scribbling a disturbing message on a flyer announcing Clark's disappearance. The message alluded to Clark's death after being stabbed. According to the Front, Bellingham Police say the man is not a viable suspect.
A well-written summary of Clark's disappearance and the subsequent search efforts published in the Front, with input from his roommates and family, can be found here.
Support can be offered to Clark's family and friends through the FIND Dwight Clark Facebook page. Anyone with any information regarding the disappearance should contact the Bellingham Police Department.
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