Selected reports from the Bainbridge Island Police Department blotter.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13

8:40 a.m. A disagreement between a customer and the owner of an island laundromat escalated to a verbal altercation over the phone. Upon ultimately agreeing to reimburse the customer, the business owner became wary of meeting him in person and called the police, asking if an officer could be present for the exchange.

The police do not send an officer to a “civil standby,” they said, without a court order. Upon hearing the particulars — the man was very rude and angry on the phone and the business owner was worried he might escalate to violence — told the business owner she could always mail him a refund instead.

She agreed that was probably better, and said she intended to arrange it.

Later, police were called by the angry customer who claimed the woman said the police told her not to offer him a refund. An officer explained that was not so, and told him what actually happened.

The man was upset the woman wanted his home address and refused to provide it. Police told him if he was unwilling to accept a mailed check or money order, or arrange some other way to get his refund that made the woman feel comfortable, he’d have to take the matter to civil court.

The man became very angry and screamed at the officer, ultimately asking to speak to his supervisor. He was advised to call back during business hours.

Police called the business owner back and she sent them a copy of the text she’d sent the angry customer apologizing for the situation, but explaining, based on the advice of police, she did not want to meet in person.

She offered instead to refund his $8 through the mail or PayPal, and asked him not to frequent her business again.