Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – A rash of graffiti painting in the Port Angeles area is frustrating the efforts of City officials to keep up with its removal and has the Police Chief promising criminal prosecution.
Especially irksome is the case at Veteran’s Park, where City Parks staff cleaned up a large amount of graffiti at Veteran’s Park, only to have it retagged over the weekend.
Graffiti was also painted recently at the Marine Life Center at City Pier, and the boulders along the road at Ediz Hook have been heavily tagged as well.
City officials say there is no easy or affordable way for City staff to remove the graffiti, and Police Chief Brian Smith called the acts criminal in nature.
“My sense is that someone in the community knows about who’s doing this and we’ll probably hear sooner or later from for more than one people in the community about it. Something to remind people though is that, you know, let’s say that property damage is at the felony level somewhere. When you do that, you leave behind a handwriting sample that can be tied to you. So anyway, we’re looking for cooperation from the community, people to know stuff, and also we’re looking for the responsible parties to make different choices about how they behave.”
Smith vows that when the responsible persons are identified, the Police Department will seek prosecution and restitution for damages to the City and other property owners.
Investigators are reviewing surveillance videos and encouraging anyone with cameras to review and forward relevant information to Police.
(PAPD photo taken at Ediz Hook)