Law Enforcement

■ ■ Aug.14 - An officer observed a vehicle traveling 50 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone on STH 13 in Colby. The officer pulled the vehicle over and met with the driver, who admitted to speeding and not having a valid driver’s license or insurance. The officer could detect a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, and called for K9 assistance. The K9 had a positive alert on the vehicle.

The driver admitted that there was a backpack in the driver seat with marijuana it. The officer informed the driver that a search of the vehicle would be conducted and asked for them to step out and stand in front of the squad car. Multiple items of drug paraphernalia were located in the vehicle and backpack. The driver consented to a search of their person, and a vape was located. They were informed that they were in possession of tobacco as a minor and the vape would be confiscated. The officer issued the driver a citation for operating without a valid license, and informed them about possibly getting a citation for the drugs.

As the search was being conducted, another vehicle arrived, driven by a female the officer recognized from prior contacts. The officer instructed the female to remain in her vehicle. The female stated she wanted to check that her friend was being treated well. The female then returned to her vehicle.

The officer was advised that the female had a bench warrant out of Marathon County. The officer informed the female of the warrant and explained that she could pay the $300 bond. The female was placed under arrest for the warrant and transported to the police station, where she posted the bond and was released.

■ ■ Aug.14 - An officer was dispatched to a nursing facility in Colby in reference to a patient wanting to leave. Upon arrival, the officer met with a social worker, who informed the officer that the complainant wanted to leave and was accusing staff of keeping their vehicle from them. The social worker stated that the complainant does not have a vehicle at the facility, and that the complainant can leave the facility at any time they want, but would have to sign out against medical advice.

The officer met with the complainant, who stated they wanted to leave, but staff were withholding their vehicles from them, so they wanted to report them as stolen. The officer asked where the vehicles were. The complainant said outside. The officer then asked how the complainant got to the facility. The complainant said they had been brought there from the hospital. The officer asked that if the complainant was brought there from the hospital how the vehicles would have gotten there.

The complainant stated the vehicles are at his residence in Unity and his ex, who he lives with, will not give him his vehicles. He stated that his ex did not want him at the house, but it was his house. The officer advised the complainant that this ex cannot kick him out of his house or keep his vehicles from them, and that he would need to call the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office if there were issues there.

The officer then explained to the complainant that, according to staff, he is allowed to leave but would have to sign a form stating that he is leaving against medical advice. The complainant thought he could take a wheelchair and leave to go to a friend’s house, but the officer informed them he could not take any items belonging to the facility, including the wheelchairs. The officer advised the complainant it was in his best interest to stay at the facility and complete rehab, but it was ultimately his choice.

■ ■ Aug.15 - An officer was dispatched to an Abbotsford residence for a welfare check on an individual who had sent a message to a friend that they were going to commit suicide. The officer met with the individual who stated they were having a bad day, but were feeling better. The officer asked if they were currently having feelings of harming themselves, which the individual denied. The individual agreed to talk to someone on a crisis line, and they seemed to be in a better mood after speaking with the representative. The officer was informed that no other actions would be needed on their end. The officer gave the individual the contacts for the crisis line and left.

■ ■ Aug. 15 - An officer received a scam complaint from an individual who stated they had talked with someone over the phone about buying an ATV they were selling for $4,500 on Facebook MarketPlace. The complainant stated they had seen several pictures of it and had an agreement with the seller to send the ATV to their residence in Abbotsford. The seller requested the complainant get a gift card to pay for the ATV. The complainant stated they sent the seller $1,110 using a gift card and was told the ATV would be sent through the mail. The complainant said the ATV was supposed to arrive on Aug.15, but it did not show up, and when they demanded their money back, the seller blocked them on Facebook Market-Place and they were unable to contact them. They stated they believed the seller lives in Arizona.

The officer informed the complainant that they had been scammed and would not receive the ATV. It is common for scammers to request a gift card be sent to them or used. The officer told the complainant there wasn’t much they could do, and advised them to meet face to face before exchanging money for a product in the future.

■ ■ Aug.19 - An officer made a traffic stop in Abbotsford on a vehicle traveling northbound on North First Street. The registered owner of the vehicle was known to have a revoked driver’s license. The driver provided a false ID to the officer. The officer recognized the driver from previous contacts and knew them to have a felony warrant through Clark County. The officer placed the driver under arrest for the warrant and transported them to the Clark County Jail. The driver was issued a citation for operating while revoked.

■ ■ Aug. 20 - An officer conducted a traffic stop after observing a truck travel through the intersection of East Spence Street and STH 13 in Colby as the traffic light turned from yellow to red. The driver stated they had been in a rush because they had to use the restroom. The officer asked for their driver’s license and proof of insurance. The driver was unable to provide proof of insurance as the vehicle belonged to their spouse and they did not know where it was located. The driver also admitted to not having a valid driver’s license, and denied having identification. The driver verbally identified themselves to the officer. The officer conducted a DOT check on the driver’s given identity, but did not get a return. The officer was informed by dispatch that they were also unable to get a return on the identity provided. The officer issued a citation for operating without a valid driver’s license.

While the officer explained the citation to the driver, the driver admitted that they had used a false name due to being nervous. The driver then provided their real legal name, and the officer explained that they would need to re-issue another citation due to the false information.

Their corrected information was run through dispatch and a DOT check, and neither received a return. A sergeant from the Clark County Sheriff’s Officer arrived to conduct a fingerprint scan on the driver. They also did not receive a hit. The driver was then issued a new citation for operating without a license and a citation for obstructing an officer.

■ ■ Aug. 14 - An officer reviewed an ordinance complaint of junk behind a residence in Colby. The officer observed numerous debris/ junk items in the open-fenced patio area behind the house. Photographs were taken of the property, and a warning letter was sent to the property owner concerning the ordinance violation.

■ ■ Aug. 14 - An officer observed a couch in the front yard of a residence in Colby. On Aug. 21, the officer verified that the couch was still in the front yard. A warning letter was sent to the owner of the property and a follow up will be needed after 10 days.

■ ■ Aug. 20 - An officer went to a residence in Colby in reference to an ordinance violation. The officer attempted to speak to the property owner, who had been working with the officer to find a compromise regarding a large amount of what appeared to be junk items. The owner claimed many of the items were projects relating to their business. The owner had organized, sold, or removed many of the items since being made aware of the numerous complaints regarding the condition of the property. They had agreed to put up a privacy fence on the east property line so that the property was not viewed as an eyesore and they could continue operating their business/hobby.

The officer spoke with the brother of the property owner, who visited the property daily. He told the officer that he had helped the owner move many of the other items and they planned on beginning the fencing project on Aug. 24. The officer let them know that they would follow up after that date to ensure the project was started.

■ ■ Aug. 22 - An officer was asked to speak to a complainant who wanted a report filed. The complainant stated that she had gone out the weekend before with some friends and had informed her ex-boyfriend of that. The ex had sent her several messages with swear words directed at her, and in one message, he had told her that she will regret going out. The complainant stated that she had asked if he was threatening her. She stated that he had responded by saying that she will find out.

She stated she did not want to pursue anything further on the matter and just wanted the incident documented.

■ ■ Aug. 23 - An officer received a scam complaint from an individual who stated they had seen a listing of a truck on the Facebook page of an acquaintance from Owen. The complainant stated they believed the scammer because they knew the individual and sent a message to the account saying they wanted the truck. The scammer told them they wouldn’t be able to hold any items, but if the complainant put money down, they would. The complainant stated that they had originally been requested to pay $1,200, but Venmo would only allow a $999 transfer. The complainant had believed the scam to be legit until they had messaged their acquaintance’s son who stated he had gotten similar inquiries and that the Facebook account must have gotten hacked.

The complainant stated that they had tried to contact Venmo customer service about the incident, but they were unavailable, as they had closed at 8 p.m. The officer advised the complainant to call in the morning to see what Venmo could do about the transaction.

■ ■ Aug. 23 - An officer received a call from a female who wanted to report suspicious activity that had occurred at a gas station in Abbotsford. The female stated that on Aug. 22, around 5 p.m., she was filling her vehicle up with gas. She stated that two males wearing the gas station’s work shirts approached her at her vehicle. One male was standing by the back of her vehicle with his phone out while the other came up to her driver's door and asked what direction she was going and if he could get a ride. The female stated she left the gas station.

The officer went to the gas station and met with two employees. The officer asked if they had both been working the night before and if they had spoken to a female that was getting gas. They both said they were and had approached her to ask for a ride home. The officer told the two that they should not approach females that are alone and ask them where they are going and request rides. They apologized and said they just wanted a ride home so that they would not have to ride their bikes. They said they would not ask females for rides anymore and asked if it was ok to ask males. The officer told them it was probably a better option if they were going to ask for rides.

■ ■ Aug. 23 - An officer met with a complainant at their residence in reference to their social security number being leaked in a national public data breach by the identity theft protection plan they had purchased. The officer told the complainant to reach out to the Social Security Administration and advise them of the leak and see if they could do anything on their end. They also advised the complainant to keep an eye on their banking accounts for any fraudulent activity.

■ ■ Aug. 23 - An officer picked up a phone that had been found at Abbotsford City Hall on Aug. 19. The cell phone is a Samsung Tracfone, black in color with a blue case. The phone is locked with a passcode. The background is a small female child sitting in a highchair eating. The phone is in the squad room at the police station until the owner comes to claim it.

■ ■ Aug. 24 - An officer received a criminal damage complaint from a Colby resident. The complainant stated that around 6 a.m. on Aug. 24, they had left their residence to go out of town. As they were backing out of their driveway, they noticed their presidential campaign signs had been knocked over. The complainant stated that the two signs near the driveway were broken and the rest were just knocked over. They believed the signs had been knocked over and damaged sometime on the night of Aug. 23. They stated they had not paid any money for the signs, and just wanted to report the signs being damaged in case it happens again.