The Best Situation/Downtown/Sun Aug 28/12:12 pm: Officer Burns reports: "On the listed date and time, while riding our SPD bicycles, a chain on my partner's bicycle broke. We stopped to fix the broken chain. I dismounted my bicycle and put my kickstand down. Gravity got the best of this situation and my bicycle fell toward the street, striking a burgundy Acura and causing a two-inch scratch above the passenger door handle. Sgt. Price responded to the scene and photographed the damage. The registered owner [of the Acura] was contacted and given the phone number to city claims." The line that makes this report, that gives it all of its value, is undoubtedly "Gravity got the best of this situation...."

That Parking Lot/Fremont/Mon Aug 29/10:00 am: Officer Thomas reports: "I arrived and found the victim unconscious, unresponsive, and not breathing [meaning: dead]. Witness one stated he was in a conference room that faces the bridge when he saw a blur pass in front of him, heard the impact, and looked out to see the victim lying in the parking lot. He then called the security manager, who responded to the victim's location and notified SPD.

"Witness two said he was in his office when he saw someone tumble over and over and land in the parking lot.

"Witness three said he was driving northbound on Aurora Avenue when he saw a white van parked on the west side of the bridge. He then saw what he thought was a female deliberately pull herself up onto the railing and fall over the side.

"Witness four said he was southbound on Aurora when he saw the victim get out on the passenger side, place her foot over the railing, and immediately jump. Neither witness saw anyone else in or around the van.

"A wallet and purse were recovered from the [victim's] vehicle and turned over to the King County Medical Examiner. They completed the investigation and removed the body." If the first witness had not described what he saw as "a blur pass in front of him," this report would have lacked the necessary poetry to capture and communicate the true tragedy of this incident.

The Apartment/Central District/Tues Aug 30/6:14 am: Officer Jelcick reports: "The victim [black, male, 47 years old] was awakened by the sound of someone knocking on his front door. Upon answering said door, the victim discovered a recent acquaintance [black, female, 24 years old] requesting entry to his apartment. The acquaintance appeared intoxicated. The victim had met [the female] two days prior and so decided to allow her inside the apartment.

"Within minutes [the female] was making a nuisance of herself and refusing to leave. The victim called 911 to have [her] removed. When [the female] saw the victim calling the police, she began screaming expletives and heading for the door. Before exiting, however, she did two rather odd things. First, she grabbed a small jar of coins. Second, in her haste, she slipped into the victim's Converse sneakers. She then walked out of the front door, continuing to scream expletives. She disappeared south on 12th Avenue." There are many excellent expressions in this report (such as, "in her haste"), but none tops "Before exiting, however, she did two rather odd things." That's pure poetry.