17 electrical boxes were damaged in the South Capitol Neighborhood, Olympia police say
A 37-year-old man, already in custody on outstanding warrants, has been connected to 17 electrical junction boxes that were damaged along Capitol Way South through the South Capitol Neighborhood, according to Olympia police.
The damaged boxes knocked out power to street and traffic lights in the area, Police Lt. Paul Lower said.
About 3 p.m. Saturday, April 26, a resident called police about the damage and officers arrived to see that the boxes had been vandalized between 18th and 22nd avenues.
During the investigation, police learned that the suspect had been arrested about 8 a.m. the same day on the outstanding warrants. Police recalled that the man had been found with wire and wire cutters on him, Lower said.
Police then found a call to Washington State Patrol from Capitol Campus security about 10:45 a.m. They had reported that an electrical box near Sid Snyder Avenue and Capitol Way appeared to have been tampered with, affecting the traffic lights in the area.
Police reviewed video of that intersection and elsewhere and connected the man to damage between 14th and 25th avenues on Capitol Way South, Lower said.
An estimated 300 feet of wire was missing, he said.
The man was booked on suspicion of first-degree malicious mischief, Lower said.
This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 11:51 AM.
