Vandals Do $10,000 at Richland Housing Development

Richland Police and Hayden Homes are searching for the suspects who caused over $10,000 in damages to a housing development in South Richland.     It's a most unusual crime.

Sometime between December 29th 2014 and January 5th of this year,  vandals uprooted dozens of survey stakes being used to plot homes in the new Clearwater Creek Development.  Located in an area known as "Beer Falls", the 132-acre development  is slated for a decade long development including homes, retail business, 23 acres of open space as well as expected Kennewick School District expansion.

The vandals uprooted all the survey stakes being used to mark lots, roads, and other plans for the development.  It will cost Hayden Homes at LEAST $10,000 to have the entire area resurveyed.

The vandals used dozens of the stakes to spell out the message "Stop Killling The Earth" at the site.   Yes, they used 3 "L"s in killing.   It's for this reason that we at Newstalk 870 are referring to them as "eco-terrorists."

There have been numerous incidents throughout the Northwest by environmental groups who left "calling cards" or messages behind about how development is supposedly hurting the environment.  Whether or not that was the true intention of these vandals, the crime is being possibly considered that way due to the cryptic message.

Nothing was stolen from the job site, but the survey damage was significant, due to the stakes being pulled up.   It's possible the suspects didn't realize that's what they were for and just thought they were being "trendy" with an environmental message.   The investigation continues.

Hayden Homes is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension of the suspect or suspects.   Anyone with any information is asked to anonymously report it to Tri-Cities Crime Stoppers at (509)-586-TIPS.

They're not the brightest bunch either, they spelled "killing" with 3 "L's".   Dunces!