Man damaged Olympia’s artesian well and crashed into 7 cars nearby, records say
The Olympia Police Department arrested a 46-year-old man on Sunday morning after he allegedly damaged the artesian well that many in the city rely on for clean water and crashed into vehicles nearby.
City spokesperson Brandon Chapman told The Olympian on July 15 that OPD responded to a series of incidents in the downtown area during the early morning hours of July 12. The man allegedly damaged the artesian well’s outfall spout, rendering it impossible to collect from.
The well is located between Fourth Avenue East and Jefferson Street Southeast, at 415 Fourth Ave. E. Chapman said city staff responded promptly to the well damage, and the spout has since been replaced. He said the artesian well is fully operational.
Chapman said the man allegedly damaged multiple vehicles, attempted a motor vehicle theft, and committed a hit-and-run, on top of other related crimes.
The man was arrested later Sunday morning about a block north of the well, according to jail logs. He was booked into Thurston County Jail on suspicion of first-degree malicious mischief, attempted motor vehicle theft, hit-and-run, vehicle prowl and third-degree theft.
According to the probable cause statement, a woman called OPD at around 6 a.m. on Sunday to report a man throwing items at vehicles and causing damage. She saw the man get inside a Jeep and pull all the items out of it, the statement said.
Officers arrived on scene and placed the man under arrest, according to the probable cause statement. The arresting officer noticed then that several vehicles had been damaged.
OPD later obtained video footage of the incident from a business, which showed that the man had stolen a brass fixture from the artesian well the same day, the statement said. The video also showed the man attempting to drive away in a stolen vehicle and ramming other vehicles in the parking lot, according to the probable cause statement.
The man caused damage to seven vehicles in total, according to the probable cause statement. The arresting officer has requested an exclusion order for the man to be prohibited from the downtown area, because he “is the cause of numerous police contacts and has been arrested multiple times in a week,” according to the probable cause statement.
Chapman said the well remains an important community resource that is “valued by thousands of residents and visitors each year.”
“The City’s Clean Team continues to monitor conditions at the location and the Olympia Police Department’s Walking Patrol Officers also continue to monitor activity around the well,” he said. “Our Drinking Water Operations team is exploring additional measures to help protect the well and ensure it remains a safe and welcoming place for everyone.”
The city’s Public Works director was not immediately available to provide more information regarding the additional measures being considered to help protect the well.
Chapman said the city recognizes there is ongoing community interest in the well and surrounding area. He said the city is continuing to maintain public access while evaluating ways to protect the well.
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