ARLINGTON – A gunman shot up a sign advertising the Stillaguamish Indian Tribe’s Angel of the Winds Casino early this week.
The vandalism caused at least $15,000 in damage and left at least 40 bullet holes in the sign and a carpet of shattered glass on the ground.
The sign was erected over the past few months and was illuminated for the first time last week, Stillaguamish Tribal Executive Eddie Goodridge Jr. said.
The sign was built amid criticism from local residents who oppose the casino and the placement of the sign. It stands on tribal trust land alongside I-5, at the northeast corner of exit 210.
Goodridge believes the sign was shot up as part of the controversy.
State codes would have prohibited the sign from being placed near a freeway ramp, but Indian trust land is exempt and under tribal sovereignty.
Tribal leaders called the British Columbia-based company that built the sign on Tuesday, when they noticed that the sign wasn’t lit.
The sign was working on Monday, Goodridge said.
Crews inspecting the sign Friday afternoon found the bullet holes.
Stillaguamish Tribal Police Chief Felix Moran said his department is handling the incident.
There are no suspects, but if someone is caught, that person will most likely be charged with first-degree malicious mischief and reckless endangerment, Moran said.
A third charge of malicious harassment could be pressed if it is determined that the vandalism was racially motivated.
“This could have been from someone who is anti-tribal or anti-casino, but it also could have been some drunk who thought it would be fun to shoot up the sign,” Moran said.
The gunman most likely stood at the top of a sloping gravel road that leads to the sign, Moran said. That means the bullets could have easily ricocheted into freeway traffic. The gun was probably a 30-caliber rifle, he said.
If tribal police find a suspect who is a tribal member, he or she will go through the tribal court system.
If a suspect is not Indian, he or she will be turned over to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.
Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said the tribe hadn’t filed a report with the county.
“That is tribal land, and it’s a tribal police situation and we won’t be involved unless they ask us to investigate,” she said.
Tribal leaders were hopeful that the damage might be limited to the shattered face of the sign and broken light bulbs inside.
If so, it will cost about $15,000 to fix, Goodridge said. If repair crews find electrical damage, that cost could skyrocket.
The tribe paid about $800,000 to build the sign, he said.
The tribe plans to light up the sign again as soon as its repaired, Stillaguamish Tribal Chairman Shawn Yannity said.
Sign crews are also constructing two billboards, one on either side of I-5. Work on the billboards will continue as planned.
“If you’re upset about the casino, you can come out here and protest,” Yannity said. “At least that wouldn’t put people’s lives in danger.”
Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.
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