PORT ANGELES — A months-long vandalism spree continued last weekend, when bus shelter windows were shot out along U.S. Highway 101, and car windows reportedly were hit at the Price Ford Lincoln auto dealership.
No injuries were reported, but the shots fired from either a BB or a pellet gun created fields of broken glass at four Clallam County bus shelters: two across the highway from one another at the Port Angeles Walmart, 3411 E. Kolonels Way; one in front of the Clallam County PUD office at 2431 E. Highway 101; and one at Highway 101 and Larch Avenue.
Damage also was reported to cars at Price Ford Lincoln, 3311 E. U.S. Highway 101, said Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputy Todd Yarnes.
The dealership was closed Sunday.
“When cold glass is hit by a high-powered BB, it just explodes,” Yarnes said.
Maintenance workers from Clallam County Transit were busy cleaning up the mess and preparing the shelters for new panes Sunday morning.
“The glass hasn’t even come in yet from the last time,” said Robert Sanders, a transit maintenance worker.
“The last time” was Dec. 29, when vandals targeted shelters and other glass surfaces, from the bus shelter at Highway 101 at Deer Park Road in the east to downtown Port Angeles cars and businesses in the west.
At least 10 shelters have been hit in recent months, Sanders said, with an average of two panes broken in each shelter.
In addition, two plate-glass windows at 1527 E. Front St., the former Price Ford Lincoln location, were shot out in November, along with windows at the new Price Ford, the former Aggie’s Motel, at 535 E. First St., and three bus shelters — two in Port Angeles and a third across from Walmart.
Windows in two vehicles — one near 1616 E. Lauridsen Blvd. and another in the 500 block of East Fifth Street — also were hit.
The cost of each bus-shelter glass pane is around $500, said Sanders, noting that the panes are safety glass, which shatters in thumbnail-sized chunks.
Because no shell casings or bullets have been found at any of the scenes, police concluded that a BB gun was probably used.
Port Angeles investigators have reviewed surveillance video from businesses and banks near where the windows were shot out.
On Dec. 29, someone was in a car when its window was hit by a pellet or BB, and there was additional damage to business windows that night, according to Port Angeles Police.
The person in the car was not injured, police said.
“During a recent incident, a light-colored passenger car with a driver and passenger was seen leaving the area, but police were unable to confirm that it was involved,” Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith said of the Dec. 29 incident.
The shootings are not believed to be related to the shootings that resulted in holes in windows and window frames at two Port Angeles banks in October.
Bullets were found at the scenes of those shootings.
Anyone with information regarding these drive-by shootings is encouraged to contact the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office at 360-417-2459, Port Angeles Police Department at 360-452-4545 or North Olympic Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
