Vandals spray paint Sequim church’s door and trailer

By Matthew Nash • August 2, 2017 1:30 am
Jonathan Simonson, co-pastor for Sequim Valley Foursquare Church, spray paints over recent graffiti, on July 31 at the church. He said they’ve never experienced graffiti. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
Jonathan Simonson, co-pastor for Sequim Valley Foursquare Church, spray paints over recent graffiti, on July 31 at the church. He said they’ve never experienced graffiti. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Vandals tagged a doorway and a trailer at Sequim Valley Foursquare Church, 9090 Old Olympic Highway, in Sequim, sometime Sunday night or early Monday morning.

Co-pastor Jonathan Simonson said he and fellow pastor Randy Hurlbut were contacted early Monday, July 31, about graffiti on a church door and a trailer.

Simonson said the door read “Hate Life” and the trailer had an upside down cross with “Hail Satan” and indiscernible tags painted around its perimeter in black spray paint.

The trailer was used at Sequim’s Relay for Life and My Choices’ Diaper Drive over the weekend and parked late in the evening on Sunday, July 30, in front of the church, Simonson said.

Church officials spoke with Deputy Brandon Stoppani on Monday and didn’t report any burglary or theft and haven’t seen any vandalism before this incident.

Simonson said he believes the vandalism occurred sometime between 10 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 a.m. Monday and that there were possibly two vandals because the spray painted words looks different.

Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King said the motivation for the vandalism is difficult to address because there hasn’t been a “rash” of this type of vandalism in the area so he’s reluctant to call it a hate crime at this point.

If a vandal or vandals were caught, he or she could be charged with Malicious Mischief in the Third Degree, which is a gross misdemeanor, King said, but if deputies learned the intent of the suspect(s), the charges could include Malicious Harassment, a Class C Felony, along with the gross misdemeanor.

The county’s code states Malicious Harassment is charged when a suspect commits an act because of his or her perception of the victim’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or mental, physical, or sensory handicap.

Simonson said church leaders are looking to press charges against the vandal(s).

“Sometimes it’s how these people learn by making a mistake and facing the consequences,” he said. “It won’t change our mission. We’ll continue to do what we do.”

With information on the vandalism, contact Deputy Brandon Stoppani through the sheriff’s dispatch at 360-417-2459.