Posted: September 1, 2010 10:02:17 AM PDT
Bellingham Police arrested one man and another is at large following a late night vandalism spree. Officers were called to the 700 block of 17thstreet Thursday evening at about 11:30 p.m when a home owner called 911 to report a open fire hydrant and water flooding her basement. As officers investigated that call, another call to 911 was placed concerning an open fire hydrant in the 500 block of Chuckanut Drive.As officers were responding, several other 911 calls were placed concerning other fire hydrants open in the same general area. In total, 5 hydrants were discovered open and 4 homes received property damage. The total dollar amount of damage is unknown at this time but it is expected to be in the thousands.
An officer responding to the complaints saw an occupied truck leaving the immediate vicinity. As the officer started to follow the vehicle, it sped away then stopped abruptly in the 1200 block of Harris Avenue. The passenger in the vehicle ran away but the driver was contacted. The driver was subsequently arrested for DUI. During the investigation, officers observed several fire hydrant caps in the bed of the truck in plain view.
The driver, Garrett M. Dorough, age 19 was booked into Whatcom County Jail on 1 count of malicious mischief 1st degree, 2 counts of malicious mischief 2nd degree, 5 counts of malicious mischief 2nd degree (1b), one count of malicious mischief of 3rd degree ,driving under the influence and possession of marijuana under 40 grams.
The truck Dorough was driving has been impounded and a search warrant has been requested. The second suspect is still being sought.
For more information on this, please contact Officer Mark Young at the listed numbers.
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Media Contact:
Mark Young
Public Information Offier
Bellingham Police Department
(360)778-8815
myoung@cob.org
