The grass outside the Re/Max office on Lakeway Drive has been dying since April (June 16, 2009)
BELLINGHAM -
Bellingham Police are trying to figure out who sprayed herbicide on lawns, trees and bushes around the city. Detectives believe it's been going on for about a year and at least eleven different locations have been targeted. They include everything from a medical office building to a real estate office and a condominium complex.
The Washington Department of Agriculture is also investigating the matter. They've taken soil samples and are trying to figure out what chemical or substance was used.
So far, more than 59,000 square feet of lawns and about 100 shrubs and trees have been damaged or destroyed. The estimated replacement value of the property is between $60,000 and $100,000.
The Re/Max Whatcom County Real Estate office on Lakeway Drive is one of the businesses that was hit. Managers there say it's upsetting and a little scary. General Manager Darin Stenvers said they have no idea why they were targeted. "If this is the first step, you wonder what are they going to do next?" Stenvers said.
At a senior community in northern Bellingham, John Getchell told Q13 Fox News they started noticing the damage a few weeks ago. They're not sure why anyone would target that neighborhood and believe the attacks are probably random "there's no accounting for what people will do to others for no reason at all" Getchell said.
Bellingham Police believe the person(s) causing the damage have access to commercial herbicides and knowledge on how to use them in order to cause plant damage. There is a $1,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s). If you have any information about this, please contact Detective Sergeant Mike Johnston at (360)778-8687. The state Agriculture Department can be reached at 877-301-4555.
The Washington Department of Agriculture is also investigating the matter. They've taken soil samples and are trying to figure out what chemical or substance was used.
So far, more than 59,000 square feet of lawns and about 100 shrubs and trees have been damaged or destroyed. The estimated replacement value of the property is between $60,000 and $100,000.
The Re/Max Whatcom County Real Estate office on Lakeway Drive is one of the businesses that was hit. Managers there say it's upsetting and a little scary. General Manager Darin Stenvers said they have no idea why they were targeted. "If this is the first step, you wonder what are they going to do next?" Stenvers said.
At a senior community in northern Bellingham, John Getchell told Q13 Fox News they started noticing the damage a few weeks ago. They're not sure why anyone would target that neighborhood and believe the attacks are probably random "there's no accounting for what people will do to others for no reason at all" Getchell said.
Bellingham Police believe the person(s) causing the damage have access to commercial herbicides and knowledge on how to use them in order to cause plant damage. There is a $1,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s). If you have any information about this, please contact Detective Sergeant Mike Johnston at (360)778-8687. The state Agriculture Department can be reached at 877-301-4555.
