Ridgefield Blotter February 5 thru 11, 2022

 Ridgefield Blotter February 5-11

February 5

22000080: S. Settler Dr, Disorder, 2:13 AM; Frightened woman called 911 to report a stranger actively trying to break into her apartment. Officer arrived and detained the male. Officer learned that the male lived in a a nearby apartment. Officer attempted to take the man home, but his wife refused him. The man demanded he be taken to jail because the officer pointed out the vomit on his short and suggested he ws trying to get into the wrong apartment. Male was booked at jail for disorderly conduct. Closed.

22000082: S. Settler Dr, DV INFO, 8:35 PM; Verbal between husband and wife. Intoxicated wife called wanting to report her truck stolen by her husband after he left to separate, then alleged possible domestic violence claims that were unsusbstantiated. Closed. Not an offense.

February 6

22000083: N 65th Ave, Warrant, 2:19 AM; Subject was contacted in his vehicle and discovered to have a felony warrant out of Clackamas County. Closed by Arrest/Citation.

22000084: Hit and Run, 9:17 PM; 15 Year Old Driver collided with a city street sign and pedestrian and failed to notify 911. Driver's mother admitted to allowing him to drive and was cited. Referred charges of hit and run, no valid license w/o ID, and reckless driving. Referred to juvenile prosecutor. Closed/referred.

February 7

22000085: N Fairhope Place, Theft, 9:49 AM; Complainant takes truck to mechanic to fix fuel pump and discovers catalytic converter had been stolen from the vehicle at some point in the past month. No suspect info. Closed.

22000086: Pioneer St, Warrant, 11:11 AM; Man arrested on felony warrant.

22000087: S 19th Ct, Fraud, 12:07 PM; Man discovered a T-Mobile account had been opened in his name without his consent. A search warrant will be filed. Open Case/Actively investigated.

22000088: SE 19th St., AOA, 7:53 PM; Verbal disturbance between boyfriend and girlfriend. Boyfriend was gone when officer arrived, but girlfriend wanted the incident documented because he allegedly has a pattern of domestic violence with her. Closed.

February 8

22000089: S 65th Ave, Recovered, 1:47 AM; An Unwanted subject was in a stolen vehicle with another individual at 7-eleven parking lot. Both individuals arrested and booked for Possession of Stolen Vehicle. Closed.

22000090: S Settler Dr, Info, 11:39 AM; Officer dispatched to an AED assist. Officer deployed their AED, administered one shock and performed chest compressions. EMS arrived and transported the subject to the hospital. Closed.

22000091: S Hillhurst Rd, Traffic Collision, 6:45 PM; Minor collision in school parking lot. One vehicle left the scene without being notified their vehicle was damaged by another. Vehicle was not licensed and was titled as scrapped to a pick and pull. Closed. 

February 9

22000092: SE 166th Ave, AOA1:16 AM; Theft of TV from an unlocked vehicle. Limited suspect information exists. Closed/suspended. 

22000093: Pioneer St, Trespass, 10:53 AM; Man was written a trespass notice indicating he is trespassed from store after he told clerk he would slit the clerk's throat then returned later with a note saying the earlier verbal trespass would not deter him. Closed.

22000094: S 6th Way, Auto Theft, 3:13 PM; Unknown subject stole a vehicle parked at the listed location. The vehicle was not locked and the keys were in the vehicle. Victims debit card was used at a liquor store in Oregon. Investigation ongoing.

22000095: S Settler Dr, Civil, 3:10 PM, Officer attempted to serve a restraining order. Unable to serve order but the children were not in custody of the respondent. Closed.

February 10

22000096: N Main Ave, Kidnap, 9:56 AM; Man alleges Ridgefield High School, during a student walk-out protest, unlawfully imprisoned students at the high school while simultaneously forcing them out on the street, thus recklessly endangering them without notifying parents. His claims are unsubstantiated and unfounded. Closed. 

22000097: Pioneer St., Traffic Collision, 3:50 PM; A man rear ended another vehicle. He said he was distracted by his radio. Closed.

February 11

22000098 S Union Ridge Pkwy, Theft, 7:21 AM; Theft of expensive GPS equipment from heavy-construction vehicles at a commercial construction site. No suspect info. Open Case, Actively investigated.

Active Cases, information as yet withheld:

2200003

22000046

22000058

22000059

22000064

22000065 

22000081

22000087

For the moment I'm giving up on getting info from the Sheriff's Department. They maintain the dubious legal assessment that they can keep even case numbers from the public. I find this deeply troubling as that means that cases are in an NSA like black hole, that there is literally no way for the public to keep track of even just the number of the case.

The case number. The citizens of Clark County are not responsible enough to even know the case number--and nothing else. You are not responsible enough to know the identifying case number, according to the Sheriff. 

I was told by the Sheriff's "information officer" I could seek legal redress but I don't have time for any more no-pay work, so I'm just trying to be like Elsa on this one and 'let it go'.

As long as public administrators continue to read Open Government laws in their lawyer, determinist, self-serving way, instead of really owning and living the intent of the laws, justice and information about what your government is doing will remain in the hands of those wealthy enough to hire lawyers.

Blotter and more January 22 thru

 Blotter January 22 thru February 4, 2022

January 22

22000047: 11 AM, N 5th Way, Vehicle Prowl, Two subjects tried to enter two parked vehicles. Entry was not gained. No suspect information. Closed.

22000048: 11:41 AM, S Hillhurst Rd, Found, Firearm found hidden in the common area of a drug re-hab facility. Owner unknown. Closed.

22000049: 3:17 PM, S Hillhurst Rd, Indecent Exposure, Unknown person followed a jogger and exposed his genitals/pleasured himself in the presence of the female jogger. Suspect is unknown at this time and follow-up to be conducted. Closed.

22000050: 10:49 PM, S 65th Ave, Theft, Juvenile stole beer from 7-Eleven. Juvenile was recognized by customers in the store as a local high school student. Awaiting video footage. Closed.

22000054: 11 AM, N 5th Way, Vehicle Prowl, Two subjects entered the victim's vehicle but did not take anything. A neighbor's security camera captured the subjects on video but due to video quality they cannot be identified. Closed.

22000055, 11 AM, N 5th Way, Vehicle Prowl, Unknown subjects entered the victims vehicle and stole his wallet. The victim's credit card was later used for online transactions. Video of the suspects was obtained, but due to video quality, identification was not possible. Closed.

January 23

22000051: 10:36 PM, Pioneer St, Warrant, Initiated a traffic stop due to expired tabs. Driver gave multiple different false names and dates of birth. Driver was arrested and transported to CCSO jail. At the jail, driver was identified as an individual with multiple felony warrants. Driver was booked on warrants and cited for misdemeanor violations. Closed by Arrest/Citation.

January 24

22000052: 10:58 AM, S Coho Pl, Impound, Warning notices placed on vehicle several times for over time parking, out of state plates, and expired registration over past 45 days. Vehicle impounded as a result of non-compliance. Closed.

22000053: 7:46 AM, Ridgefield, Trespass, Report of a student trying to get onto a bus that he was expelled from. Further report of bus driver assaulting the same student on a previous day. Video proved no assault occurred. Parent informed the student is trespassed from the bus by KWRL and subject to arrest if he gets on the bus in the future. closed.

22000056: 12:01 PM, S Settler Dr, Restrain/Protect Order, On January 24, 2022, officer responded to the Acero Apartments on a man wanting to see his son, who is supposed to be living at the Acero with his maternal grandmother. The officer learned the son was not at the Acero with grandma, but was with his mother. The son had been with the grandmother the previous evening. The grandmother and mother may have had contact to exchange the custody of the son, which would be a violation of a protection order. CPS notified of investigation. There is no PC for arrest at the time of this report. Closed. 

January 26

22000057: 3:26 PM, S 11th St, Theft, Catalytic converter stolen from Class C Winnebago RV while it was parked at NW Self Storage. Incident likely linked to case 22000039 and the burglary aspect of this case has already been investigated and documented. Limited suspect information at this time. Closed.

22000064: 1:57 PM, N 5th Way, Vehicle Prowl. Cold vehicle prowl. Nothing taken. Related to earlier vehicle prowls. Closed.

January 27

22000060: 12:45 AM, Domestic Violence Info, Suspicious circumstance call led to female being issued domestic violence resources. Closed.

22000061: 8:04 AM, Pioneer St, Traffic Collision, Single vehicle, non-injury roll over traffic collision. Driver cited for 'Speed too fast for conditions'. Vehicle towed at owner request. Closed.

22000062: 10:22 AM, N Main Ave, MalMisch, Unknown suspect damaged the taillight on a vehicle. No suspect info. Closed.

22000063: 1:59 PM, N 9th St, Fraud, Reporting person was contacted by phone scammers who claimed to be from the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Scammers said the person owed money for an impounded vehicle. The person provided scammers with personal information but cancelled the transaction prior to sending any money. Closed.

January 30

22000066: 8:05 AM, Pioneer Street, Mental Assist, Officer served a resident of the Ridgefield Living Center with a Clark County protection order. Officer documented service and flagged the resident for future police contacts. Closed.

January 31

22000067: 2:35 AM, Domestic Violence Info, S Royle Rd, Sisters argued over a sex scene in a movie while one sister's daughter was present. One decided to go to the Red Lion for the night. Verbal only. Closed.

22000068: 8:26 AM, N 65th Ave, Theft, Woman reported her soon to be ex-husband stole her phone from her and may be trying to sell it. Husband denied the theft but admitted the phone does belong solely to the female. During the investigation the officer developed a probable cause to arrest the male for trafficking in stolen property and theft 2. He is on camera having someone else sell the phone to EcoATM in Redmond, Oregon for $330.00. Male has not been arrested as of February 3, 2022. Open.

22000069: 9:19 AM, Pioneer St, Threats/Harassment, A man entered a woman's place of employment, which is also an elementary school, and caused the woman to fear for her safety, well-being, and life more generally. The man was issued a written trespass notice, which he disagreed with, and was clearly not happy about. Closed.

22000070: 4:11 PM, Pioneer St, Traffic Collision, Traffic collision caused by one driver failing to remain stopped at a stop sign. Driver causing crash said the sun was in her eyes and she did not see the other vehicle in the road. Closed.

February 1

22000071: 9:01 AM, S 11th St, Burglary, Boat motor was stolen off of a boat parked inside the NW Self Storage secure lot sometime in January. No suspect info. Closed.

22000072: 2:42 PM, N 3rd Way, Info, A man found a handgun in his safe he forgot he had. He removed it from the safe not realizing it was loaded and accidentally shot his own finger. He went to the hospital for treatment. The officer did a welfare check on him, his wife, his home, and his neighbors. Bullet was contained in the bathroom and no one else was injured. The man has no criminal history and no violent history in Clark County. Info report written.

22000073: 4:07 PM, Division St, Civil, Biological mother of 15 year-old went to pick up son and girlfriend of deceased biological father was refusing to allow the 15 year-old to leave with biological mother. Closed. (Apologies. I can't work out what happened so I just wrote it as it appeared on the blotter provided.)

22000074: 5:17 PM, S Hillhurst Rd, Traffic Collision, Ridgefield Middle School, A hearing impaired woman put her vehicle in reverse and did not see the car behind her nor hear the car's horn. The officer assisted with exchanging information for damage which appear to be under $1,000. closed.

22000075 6:20 PM, S 14th Place, Fire Investigation, Vehicle fire. Informational report. No injuries. Closed.

22000076: 8:58 PM, Traffic Collision, Vehicle was observed driving recklessly and was observed by motorists dash-cam driving recklessly as well. The vehicle crashed into a fence. The driver was cited for reckless driving. Closed.

22000081: 9:53 AM, Pioneer St, Impound, Agandoned vehicle left on city easement for several years. Vehicle towed after unsuccessful contact with the owner. Closed.

February 2

22000077: 5:48 PM, CPS, Mother and 12 year-old daughter allegedly yelling and pushing each other. According to the report the mother thinks she is parenting, but the mother really needs some counseling and training. Referred to CPS. Closed.

February 3

2200078: 2:56 AM, Pioneer Street, DUI, The officer observed a vehicle driving too fast for road conditions and initiated a traffic stop. The officer discovered that the driver was impaired after a DUI investigation. Driver was cited and released for DUI and Speeding too Fast for Conditions. Closed. (Note that the stark increase in crime means the county jail is over full and crimes of this nature may  sometimes be met with citation and release rather than arrest as a consequence).

February 4

22000079: 10:19 PM, CPS, CPS referral regarding mother who allegedly grabbed child by the neck because the child would not wake up for school. Screened out by CPS. The officer did a welfare check and found nothing concerning. The child has special needs and this referral may be a miscommunication. Closed.

As yet no information for Ridgefield Police Department Cases, 22000003, 22000046, 22000058, 22000059,  22000064, 22000065, 22000080. Most likely, these cases are still under active investigation. 

I made an attempt to circumvent the City of Ridgefield's censorship by asking the Sheriff's Office for booking records of all suspects brought in by the Ridgefield Police Department, but the Sheriff's Office is trying very hard to keep that information from you. Instead of complying with the INTENT of the Public Records Act, the Sheriff's Office sent a very long list of bookings, generally, with half addresses, and no City information. 

Becoming frustrated with the bureaucrats I contacted the The Clark County Prosecutor's Office. But they even went so far as to claim that they have, really, literally, "no addresses" of the people that they are prosecuting.

I did request a blotter from the Clark County Sheriff's Office.

Below is a photo of just a small part of their reply for January 15 thru January 21, 2022. I asked for records including all of the Unincorporated area of Ridgefield as well as the City of Ridgefield.

The Sheriff's Office sent a blotter that includes reports from all over Clark County and informed me that if I want more specific information I'll be charged for the privilege. 

Also, the Sheriff's office completely blocked out some cases, including even the case numbers. 

You can't even know the case number. You're not allowed that information. Not even the number of the case, let alone any general, anonymous information about what happened in your community.

I can only assume that this is because they don't want these cases tracked for some reason. Why? Who knows. 

Which brings me back to the City of Ridgefield.

Washington's Public Records Act used to be pretty robust, but a succession of judge's rulings, legal findings, and self-serving political moves have gutted it. Now, local administrators like our City's, can literally block out pretty much anything they want from public knowledge. This is because they can define what is either too embarrassing or too trivial to include everything.

Let me be clear, the City of Ridgefield has decided that every single interaction the Ridgefield police have with the public is either too embarrassing to disclose or too trivial to bother the good citizens with such that the City now blocks, at the whim of bureaucrats and under the aegis of elected officials, every name and every address of everyone who shows up on a police report--yes, even the perpetrators of sex offenses in closed cases.

Frankly, it's disgusting and a derogation of the City's duty. It is just another auto-destructive component in our determinist legal system. But, I digress.

If we assume that these cases that the Clark County Sheriff's office has blocked from public scrutiny are the worst, the sexual abuse of children, perhaps your initial response to the Sheriff's censorship is one of understanding. Like, we need to respect the victims.

But this policy condones the culture of shaming and does nothing but add blame to the victim's experience. Hiding this information only bolsters the culture of shame that keeps victims from speaking out.

Also, censorship of these types of crimes does nothing to inform the public of the prevalence of them and makes it harder for positive community change to come about.

Of course, the Sheriff's Office may be completely blocking out any trackable information for these cases for other reasons, maybe they are cases involving national security? Who knows.

I should be clear, though, that the City of Ridgefield determines what is released by the Ridgefield Police Department by policy. The Ridgefield Police Department may wish they could be much more informative, for all I know. I have no idea. But, I want to be clear, I'm not blaming the RPD for any of this. It all lands firmly at the feet of the City.

I have no idea who makes the policy at the Sheriff's office. But secrecy is the wrong choice and bad for democracy.

An irony of these efforts of mine is that I never would have released names and addresses, anyway. But, the unnecessarily defensive response from the City to me, a member of the public, wanting to do nothing more than to inform my fellow Ridgefieldians about the work their officers are doing in the community has only driven me to ask more and more questions.

Blotter for Ridgefield, Washington February 4, 2022

 Blotter for Ridgefield, Washington, February 4, 2022

Why do this? Answer at the bottom.

January 15 

#22000029: S Taverner Dr, 1:46 AM, Verbal disturbance. No assault. Intoxicated individual was relapsing and allegedly handling his alcohol poorly. Closed.

#22000030: 3:08 AM, The respondent in two NCO's drove by the protected person's boyfriend's house while the protected person was outside. The respondent yelled at the protected person from his vehicle. Respondent also called 911 and admitted to driving by, but claimed it was unintentional. Subject was booked into Clark County Sheriff's Office Jail for NCO Violation. Closed.

#22000031: S 11th St, 9:59 AM, Vehicle that was stored at Northwest Self Storage was prowled. Suspects were seen on video entering facility and prowling vehicle after entering through a hole in the fence. Unknown at this time what items were taken. Waiting for video from nearby business. Open investigation.

#22000032: Pioneer Street, 1:37 AM, DUI collision on Pioneer between a Toyota and a Volkswagen. Toyota driver was arrested for DUI, and Toyota passenger was transported by AMR with minor injuries. Closed.

January 17

#22000033: 7:39 AM, Dispatched to a subject attempting to jump into the water to commit suicide. Investigation revealed the subject was suffering from mental health crsis possibly induced by medical conditions. Subject was transported to the hospital by AMR and placed on a mental health hold. Closed - Not an offense.

#22000034: S Union Ridge Parkway, 3:20 PM. DUI driver reported by a citizen. Located vehicle, observed signs of impaired driving, and initiated a traffic stop. Driver cited and released for DUI.

(Please note that the prosecutor's office told me that local police departments are having to cite and release cases like this because the jail is over full with more serious offenders)

January 18

#22000035: S Cornett Drive, 1:19 PM, Unknown person entered the reporting person's vehicle and stole two debit cards and a driver's license. Closed.

#22000036: Pioneer St. Traffic collision with possible injury. Closed. Cited by infraction.

#22000037: S Union Ridge Parkway, Dollar Tree, 6:26 PM, Suspect brandished what appeared to be a Glock handgun, and pointed the handgun at victims causing them fear. Closed by Arrest/Citation.

(Please note that I have requested booking records from Clark County Sheriff's Office Jail for this and other cases.)

January 19

#22000038: Ridgefield, 2:39 AM, 15 year old driver cited for No valid operator's license without ID. Closed, referred to PA/CA.

#22000039: S 11th St, 12:50 PM, On January 16, 2022, approximately 1:45 AM, a suspect in a white truck stole catalytic converters off of two Penske trucks parked at NW Self Storage in Ridgefield. Photo of truck provided. No further suspect info at this time. Closed. 

#22000040: S 7th Circle, 6 PM, Unknown person(s) hacked female's Instagram account. They used the account to access her friend's list and attempted to solicit money from them to invest/purchase Bitcoin. Closed.

January 20

#22000041: W Mill St, 6:32 AM, Vehicle stolen from Marina Parking lot overnight. No suspect information. Closed.

January 21

#22000042: NW 13th Ave, Ridgefield, 12:18 AM, Assisted Clark County Sheriff's Office Deputies with physical disturbance in La Center. CCSO took over investigation shortly after RPD units arrival and interview with reporting party. Closed. Not an offense.

#22000043: S 4th Ave, 9:21 AM, man reports he was duped into providing all his passwords to someone online. The hacker has taken over the victim's computer and email. No suspect info at this time. Advsed victim to get a new computer, new email, and start over. Also suggested he make an identity theft report to FTC.gov, monitor his credit over the next six months, and tell all his friends and family what happened. Closed.

#220000: 11:32 AM, Dispatched to a subject in mental health crisis tearing up the house. The officer was present four days before when the subject was sent to the hospital on an involuntary mental health hold, possibly induced by medical conditions. Investigation revealed the subject had deteriorated significantly in the last four days and was trying two new medications. On this day, January 21, 2022, the subject was again transported to the hospital by AMR and placed on a mental health hold. Closed, not an offense.

#22000045: S 65th Ave, 1:10 PM, An employee of Papa Petes called to report a hit and run to her vehicle. During the investigation the officer learned a red Ford pickup with white canopy caused the damage. Suspect was identified and Cited. Closed by Arrest/Citation.

I publish the blotter because Ridgefield has no newspaper to inform citizens. A blotter allows citizens to be more informed of what is happening in their community. This way they are informed citizens. An informed citizenry is essential to a healthy community.

Ridgefield, Washington Blotter, January 28, 2022

 Ridgefield, Washington Blotter, January 28, 2022

December 24, 2021

#21000847: 911 accidentally called during an argument. No injuries observed. Closed.

#21000848: Unknown female suspect and another female associate attempted to defraud Rosauers Supermarket by submitting a fake, written note indicating she was owed $268 for a misplaced bakery order. The refund was refused and the two suspects left in a white Chevy Impala (BOW6211) driven by a male subject. Ongoing investigation.

December 25, 2021

#21000849: Juvenile ran away from grandmothers. Juvenile entered into WACIC/NCIC as a runaway. Closed.

#21000850: Husband and wife having disagreement over alcohol consumption and child custody. No Crime. Closed.

December 26, 2021

#21000851: Hit and Run of attended vehicle. Victim provided video of the suspect driving recklessly prior to the collision. Suspect information was provided and the suspect was located and cited. Cited for hit and run, reckless driving, disorderly conduct, and malicious mischief 3-attempted. Closed.

#21000852: Conflict between father and son that turned physical. Father sustained minor scratches on his face but was unable to say who gave them to him. No arrests made. Closed.

#21000854: Ridgefield Police located a silver purse and black wallet, both empty. Items placed into found property at CCSO West.

December 27, 2021

#21000853: A package was stolen on N 8th Way. Photo of unknown suspect was attached to the report.

#21000855: Report of a cold burglary at NW Self Storage. A boat was prowled and $2,590 worth or items stolen. No suspect information at this time.

#21000856: Three juveniles were busted in a vehicle with weed and booze. One of the poor lads was charged. God, I'm glad I'm not growing up in the current authoritarian state.

December 28, 2021

#21000858: Someone lost or had stolen $1,000 from their Riverview Drive home. They blamed their neighbor who denied the theft. Closed.

December 29, 2021

#21000859: Mother reported that her adult son exited their car while they were traveling on the freeway. Mother said son has been depressed lately and may have been experiencing suicidal thoughts. Son returned to the car unharmed. Police advised the son to seek help/go to the hospital. He refused. Closed.

December 30, 2021

#21000860: Light pole at North Royle Road and North 9th Street destroyed in a collision. Snow and ice may have caused the wreck.

#21000861: Somebody lost control of their vehicle during wintry conditions and slid into a guard rail. 

Editor's Note: The two car wrecks above remind me of interviewing the City Chaplain in Albuquerque. He's the guy who shows up at the door when a family member has died in a car wreck. It was a snowy day and he mentioned that he 'hates' this weather. I asked him why? and he answered, 'because I get really busy.'

#21000862: A former employee of CCI Caseworks allegedly used a company card to make personal purchases exceeding $12,000 over a several month time period. The former employee has since moved to Georgia. Charges forwarded.

December 31, 2021

#21000864: Siblings had an argument after sister took away brother's rifle because he was making suicidal statements. Brother shoved the sister, causing her a head injury. She refused medical treatment. Closed by arrest/citation.

#21000865: Domestic disturbance later determined to be assault of two parties. Suspect booked on Domestic Violence assault charges. Open Case.

January 1, 2022

#22000001: Ridgefield Police dispatched to Acero Apartments to assist Emergency Medical Services. A patient who allegedly suffers depression, bi-polar disorder, and schizophrenia became physical. No charges were filed. 

#22000003, 11:57 PM: (COMPLETELY REDACTED). Full report requested.

January 4, 2022

#22000004: Death investigation of a male at Recovery Village. Closed. No Offense.

January 5, 2022

#22000006: An unknown suspect or suspects attempted to gain access to the reporting person's bank account. Safety measures in place by the banking system did not allow the suspects to gain access. But, the reporting person needed a police report for banking and credit purposes. Closed.

January 6, 2022

#22007122: Ridgefield Police contacted a man allegedly high on methamphetamines who was sitting in a stolen car in front of his ex girlfriend's house on N 8th Way. Suspect arrested, stolen car recovered. Closed by arrest/citation.

#22000007: Ridgefield Police dispatched to suspected recycling theft. Male seen actively taking recycling. He was advised to 'move along'. He was later seen driving a vehicle with temporary tags that had been altered. He was issued multiple citations and infractions. Closed by citation.

#22000009: S. Hillhurst Rd. A driver was cited for no valid license and expired tabs. She reported having recently moved. Ridgefield Police told the driver they would speak to the court on her behalf if she rectified the license and tabs in fifteen days. 

January 7, 2022

#22000010: N 9th Ave. Resident called to report several items including checks stolen from her safe. Resdent saw bank security footage and identified her son's girlfriend attempting to cash the allegedly stolen checks. Open Case.

January 8, 2022

#22000011: S Willow Drive. Victim was notified of a fraudulent PayPal account opened in their name. Open Case.

January 9, 2022

#22000014: S 11th Way. A vehicle that had been impounded privately was stolen from behind a secured/locked fence. Closed.

January 10, 2022

#22000015: S Phoebe Dr. Male half of roomating cousins was allegedly 'very intoxicated' resulting in a verbal disturbance. No charges filed. Closed.

#22000016: N 35th Avenue. Checkbook found and entered into evidence for safe keeping. Closed.

January 11, 2022

#22000018: S 11th Street. Unknown suspects cut through the chanin link fending in order to make entry into the NW Self Storage yard. Unclear what other crimes may have been committed. $500 in damages. Closed.

#22000019: 8:12 PM, Pioneer Street. Some jackass messed with a manhole cover resulting in damage to a vehicle's tire and rim.

January 12, 2022

#22000020: 12:12 AM, S 65th Ave. Someone had the munchies real bad and allegedly stole ice cream and beer from the 7-11. Closed.

#22000021: South 3rd Way, 3:34 PM. Verbal disturbance between neighbors. No crimes committed. Closed.

#22000022: A female with a No Contact Order against a male reported that the subject male had contacted her husband through text messages. This is not a violation of NCO. Closed. 

January 13, 2022

#22000024: South 47th Place, 10:33 AM. A dog owner was cited after the dog escaped and bit a delivery driver. Closed.

#22000026: South Chukar Drive, 6:55 PM. A person was cited for Domestic Violence Assault 4 against his brother. 

January 14, 2022

#22000027: Ridgefield High School, 1:15 PM. A juvenile was found to be in possession of marijuana and knives at the High School. Contraband seized and student released and charged forwarded to Juvenile Prosecutor. Closed, referred.

#22000028: An officer stopped a Subaru that was leaking gasoline. The vehicle caught fire but the occupant exited safely. Closed.

#22000046: Child Protective Services intake report for possible child abuse perpetrated by the father of the children. CPS has made contact and provided resources. Closed.

A note on the blotter:

In Ridgefield, simply interacting with the police is deemed by the City of Ridgefield's government to be so terribly embarrassing that the City of Ridgefield has deemed it necessary to block out all names and addresses of anyone who has had any interaction necessitating a police report.

This is the worst, most flagrantly stupid censorship I have ever run across in any American municipality.

It also must be an onerous and time consuming task for the one front desk person at the small police office as she is forced by City officials to block out every name and address when a blotter or a full police report is requested.

Government censorship of this kind only reinforces the expectations of shame that keep victims from speaking out and it is just another brick in the wall of government secrecy.

Seemingly small violations of our rights, like the City's current attack on open government, are a way of normalizing citizens to the rampant violations of our rights happening at higher levels of government.

It's a dangerous and dumb waste of an employee's time and the citizen's money, and for what? 

Community food sovereignty

   

The Self-Watering Raised Bed

Along with six of our neighbors we are planning on starting a community food sovereignty initiative where anyone in our neighborhood will feel free to harvest what they need from any of the raised beds spread across the neighborhood.

Hopefully, if this experiment works, we can expand to more yards and greater food sovereignty for our community.

Last year I built a raised bed and grew Detroit Red  beets in it. They were intensively planted and so they produced much, much more edible leaves than we could have eaten. Since the raised bed was part of our front-yard garden and easily accessed from the sidewalk by passers by, I offered to some of our neighbors that they could harvest leaves for themselves.

To my delight quite a few of our neighbors took us up on this proposition. Beet greens are highly nutritious, and they grow very quickly. And mine were used in salads, cooking, smoothies, and the like in many friends’ houses throughout the Summer and Fall.

As a result of this and a history of sharing gardening and chickens with my immediate neighbors, I had the idea that if several of us in the immediate vicinity had raised beds, accessible from the sidewalk, we could all grow food for each other. 

Thus was born the Community Food Sovereignty initiative on Falcon Street!

Above is a picture of the prototype raised bed, seeded and put in the space between the sidewalk and the road in front of our house. I’ll move it to a better space (behind a low fence) but I placed it as seen in the photograph so that anyone interested in having one in their front yard, anyone wanting to participate in our Community Food Sovereignty (CFS) initiative will have a chance to come and look at it.  

The main bit is a two-foot by two-foot by four-foot stock tank more typically used for feeding or watering livestock. 

We got ours at Wilco in Battleground, WA.

The sweet thing about this type of raised bed is that it has a water reservoir in the bottom and wicks that pull that water into the soil. The effect is that you only have to water every few weeks, even in the dry summer. 

Here’s a sketch of how it works by me, an amateur. Please be forgiving. 

Also, because you use (or should use) an essentially sterile substrate there are very few weeds to pull. Plus, being a raised bed, weeding is hardly more than an occasional yanking up of a weed or two as you pass by.

This is the easiest way to grow food I’ve ever seen.

Here are the things I used for this particular bed, but there a myriad of other ways to build it. I tried to use the materials I had at hand. If you’re interested in being part of this CFS I’ll build one for you for the price of materials.

We will be working out who will plant what in the coming few months. 

MATERIALS

Stock Tank

Bag Perlite

Bag Vermiculite

coconut coir (replaces peat moss)

slow release organic fertilizer

Fencing wire

Landscaping cloth

Old plastic planting pots

2” pvc pipe

BUILD STEPS

I had these ten inch high planter pots just laying around. I cut a half inch hole in them to aid in water ingress, but that’s not necessary as water will get in no matter what.

 

After seeing how much substrate it took to fill the bin I wished that I’d used larger pots. The next one I will make I’m going to use cow wire to build a taller superstructure under the soil which will mean less of the expensive substrate materials and also make a larger water reservoir.

I placed the pots upside down in the bin and added 3 inch galvanized fence wire on top of them. 

Then came the wicks. I used slightly taller old plastic pots. I cut them in half and rolled them and held them together with wire bands. All together too much work. I should have just used some of the PVC pipe I’ve got sitting around from the old “farm” we used to own.

Here you see the ‘wicks’ in their place.

 

I forgot to add the filler tube until later, but this is when I should have placed it.

    

Next, I drilled an overflow hole in the stock bin about one inch below the tops of the upturned pots. This should create an airspace between the top of the water reservoir and the bottom of the soil. The soil in raised beds needs to be oxygenated from below as well as from above.

Here it is in Action.

Next was the landscape cloth as a floor for the substrate. I’ve pondered the best way to do this. Probably some kind of plastic sign, like old political signs, or something. But don’t forget to drill holes for the oxygen. 

I lined the wicks with landscape cloth and packed, very hard, vermiculite into them. This aids in wicking the water into the soil.

then it was adding the substrate, a one-third each mix of vermiculite, perlite, and coconut coir. Added loosely and then patted down. 

Bummer, though, for me as I ended up having to add a whole bag of organic potting soil. It shouldn’t hurt as the main thing is the substrate has to be well draining. Mainly, you just don’t want any heavy soils or contaminants. 

I forgot to take pics, but as the substrate was laid I layered in some Slow Release Organic Fertilizer (SROF). This should be enough to feed the plants for the first couple of months.

And, here’s the final product being filled with water. For this Beta/Demonstration model I planted Butter Crunch lettuce, Mizuna, and some Scarlet Kale. These are all varieties that might actually germinate in February. We will see. I’m always optimistic?

 

COST

Bearing in mind that things change, and that I’m building these for my immediate neighbors as a way to kickstart our CFS in Bellwood Heights, here’s what I estimate one for you will cost if you’re my neighbor, or you plan to build it yourself.

Stock Tank 2x2x4 $90

Cow Wire and fence wire $6

Yard Cloth $2

PVC Pipe $1

Perlite $18

Vermiculite $23

Coconut Coir $22

Total being $162 plus 8% tax, roughly $175. not bad for getting to stroll out of your house and pick a salad, or get greens for a smoothie this summer and fall. Plus, the next year there’s virtually no maintenance. The substrate should last a few years, and is easily freshened, anyway

Inauguration Annhiliation

Lady Gaga brought me to tears, which is not such a hard thing to do as I am wanton, in moments of peril, to grave-giving patriotism.

Somewhere in the triumphalism Justin Timberlake reminded me that we (white men) have at least one example of a talented singer/dancer.

Woody Guthrie, abused but not spiritless, apparently survives in the nasal breach of Jennifer Lopez.

And a youth poet laureate said things tailor-made for high praise. 

As the poet spoke—I thought she was fourteen—I wondered aloud who the actual, real, for realz National Poet Laurette might be and if that person should be feeling somewhat invisible considering they’d been displaced by Poet du youth du Jour. 

I continued, concerned, that it would be sad if you’d spent your whole life a poet only to be forgotten at the very moment of a Poet’s greatest, and only, opportunity for a national audience, the Presidential Inauguration.

Subsequently I learned that the reigning National Poet, Monarch of American Poets, is non other than my old nemesis, Joy Harjo. 

Harjo is a person I took a class from in 1988.

She, pablum personified. I, Bukowski encrypted.

She did not like me. And gave me a B.

In poetry.

I got a B. A fucking B. In poetry.

I wonder that she had not the courage to have dropped a C on me, or maybe a D. 

If she’d been a real poet, she’d surely have given me an F.

But a B? What is that? It’s not failure. It’s not dismissal or disgust. I mean, she thought about that B. A B? In poetry? To be fair she hated me from the moment we met.

And she has haunted me for three decades.

As I told my son, National Poet Joy Harjo is my Thanos—my desiccant. My shriveler.

Worse, she is my Thanatos, Greek God who takes you down, to the down down.

But tonight, the bright night of the New Dawn, the Awakening (yes?) The vaunted National Poet, Trump’s National Poet, Joy Harjo, previously teacher to Chris Dudley, welp, that poet died upon her own pen.

Self inflicted, as those who saw through her might say. Hoisted upon her own petard, she was.

If I had a piano I’d bang it until my fingers began to bleed a bit just to celebrate.

Oh, fuck it, where’s my piano? Tonight’s for celebrating.

Your threat is real, dear progressive

One thing we can learn from the militarized state responses to various protests (Occupy to BLM to yesterday’s insanity) is that the powers that control our government, the plutocrats and multinational corporations, are very much afraid of progressives of all stripes and not overly concerned with right wingers. 

Common cause is common cause, after all. And the enemies must be crushed.