Vandalism at Tacoma apartment complex causes $2 million in damage, displaces 32 tenants
Tacoma police arrested a 42-year-old woman Friday for vandalizing a fire standpipe in an apartment stairway, resulting in damage that displaced 32 tenants.
A fire standpipe is installed in buildings to help firefighters have access to reliable water when needed.
Tacoma Police Department wrote in a social media post that the woman vandalized a standpipe on March 9 at 1815 G St. TPD spokesperson Wendy Haddow said the incident occurred around 2:42 a.m. The woman, a tenant, tampered with the valve on the standpipe, allowing water to gush out for about two and a half hours.
Police booked the woman into the Pierce County Jail on suspicion of first-degree malicious mischief.
The water damage is estimated to total around $2-2.5 million, Haddow said. The apartment complex houses mainly elderly and disabled people — those living in 32 of the 64 units were displaced because of this. It’s unclear where the tenants were relocated to.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published March 11, 2023 at 11:30 AM.
