Bellingham police release ‘only photos of our suspects at this time’ in Wink Wink vandalism
The Bellingham Police Department released photos Wednesday of four people suspected of throwing rocks through the windows of a downtown business whose owner, staff and others have faced repeated harassment and threats in the past year.
Video of the vandalism incident shows the group throwing rocks into the windows at approximately 3 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, at Wink Wink Boutique, a “woman-owned inclusive all-ages not creepy sex shop” at 1302 Commercial St. in Bellingham, said owner Jenn Mason.
“Unfortunately these are the only photo’s we have of our suspects at this time,” Lt. Chad Cristelli told The Bellingham Herald in an email Wednesday, Aug. 10. “We have applied for a warrant and waiting its return to serve a business we hope will have additional video. Additionally, we are working on a possible suspect vehicle photo as well.”
The faces of the suspects are obscured or their backs are turned to the surveillance cameras in all four photos.
Even though the store remains closed indefinitely, its employees are being paid and merchandise orders can be made online.
A Venmo account had raised more than $15,000 by Monday evening, Aug. 8, Mason said, and another fundraiser on the GoFundMe website had received more than $5,000 in donations by Wednesday morning.
“If people were trying to change our minds about what we do, they have failed,” Mason told The Bellingham Herald in an interview.
“We’re not backing down from what we know is right. We’ll continue to serve our community,” she said.
Damages from Sunday’s vandalism are still being determined, but “it will not be cheap” to replace the windows even with insurance, Mason said.
Cristelli said the crime is being investigated as first-degree malicious mischief, which is a Class B felony under state law and punishable by up to 10 years in prison and hefty fines.
Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood condemned the incident in a statement, according to earlier reporting in The Herald.
“This business promotes an enlightened view on sexuality that is healthy, informed and inclusive, and is not judgmental, narrow-minded or shaming,” Fleetwood said.
“They are helping us all out, not hurting us. We are actively investigating the damage caused to this business, and when we catch whoever is responsible they will be prosecuted. It is absolutely unacceptable behavior that will not be tolerated,” he said.
This story was originally published August 10, 2022 at 11:22 AM.
