Police Make Arrest In New Edmonds Hate Graffiti Incident

EDMONDS, WA - Police have arrested a 21-year-old Edmonds man in connection to a graffiti vandalism incident over the weekend where a car was tagged with a swastika at Westgate Chapel. This most recent incident is at least the third since the beginning of the year where taggers have spray-painted hateful or racist messages around Edmonds.

Police are investigating whether the man arrested in Sunday's incident is connected to the other two incidents. In April, someone sprayed swastikas on cars in the Westgate and Esperance neighborhoods. In June, taggers defaced the Madrona School with racist and sexist graffiti.

Sunday's arrest was made after an Edmonds police sergeant noticed a man near Westgate Chapel with spray paint on his hands. The sergeant also recognized the man from previous encounters. When the Westgate Chapel member later reported the vandalism, police tracked down the suspect and arrested him.

He was being held in the Snohomish County Jail on a charge of third-degree malicious mischief.

Chief Al Compaan commented on the third incident of hate-tinged graffiti in the city.

“I continue to share the concern of our community that we have had another incident of this nature. It is important to know that Edmonds PD will continue to investigate each instance and make an arrest where appropriate. The symbol used in this crime does nothing but signify hate. In this case, the suspect was booked for the crime of Malicious Mischief based on evidence available to us, and after consultation with the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office. Our investigation continues.”

Westgate Chapel, 22901 Edmonds Way, is close to where the other two graffiti incidents happened.

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