No arrests in vandalism, graffiti case; reward grows

Much of the damage was done by spray paint, according to sheriff’s department. The list of targets include Friday Harbor Elementary School, the Head Start building near the elementary school, the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church pre-school building, Kingdom Hall—where the word “Satan” was spray-painted on a wall—and the Homes for Islanders project on Grover Street. In addition, 11 tires were slashed on vehicles in the area where the vandalism occurred.

March 17, 2014 10:26 pm

Journal staff report

The case remains unresolved and active, and the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction for those responsible for a recent episode of vandalism in Friday Harbor has grown.

With an additional $500 from Cask & Schooner restaurant and $200 from Roche Harbor, the reward fund reached $2,700 as of Monday, March 17, according to Friday Harbor Town Administrator Duncan Wilson.

Other contributions include $500 from Rock Island Technology Solutions, $500 from the town, and the remainder from anonymous sources.

Sheriff Rob Nou acknowledged no arrests have been made, but declined comment about possible suspects or the number of tips the sheriff office has received regarding the vandalism that took place in several areas in Friday Harbor the weekend of March 1.

“It’s an active investigation,” Nou said.

He declined to estimate the amount of damage caused to the houses, buildings or slashed car tires, saying such information “tends to dribble in over time.”

Much of the damage was done by spray paint, according to sheriff’s department. The list of targets include Friday Harbor Elementary School, the Head Start building near the elementary school, the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church pre-school building, Kingdom Hall—where the word “Satan” was spray-painted on a wall—and the Homes for Islanders project on Grover Street.

In addition, 11 tires were slashed on vehicles in the area where the vandalism occurred.

Regarding speculation that the vandalism could be consider a “hate crime” because of graffiti on the Presbyterian Church, Nou referred such questions to the prosecutor attorney, as the person who would decide such matters.

Prosecuting Attorney Randy Gaylord said he has “no reports from the sheriff whatsoever” on the vandalism.

Donations can be made to the Reward Fund, which will be held in the town’s trust account. If there are no suspects within six months the monies will be returned to those who donated, according to a town press release.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 378-4151; the sheriff’s office also has an anonymous tip line, 370-7629.

Contact Duncan Wilson, town administrator, with questions about the Reward Fund, 378-2810.