BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A Bellingham woman is in custody following a burglary and vandalism at the Whatcom County Courthouse.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deb Slater says that Lummi Police originally booked Victoria Coe at the county jail late in the night of Sunday, Nov. 17.
She was arrested for two counts of obstructing a police officer as well as resisting arrest, then released around midnight.
Video surveillance showed 29-year-old Coe stealing a white metal box from the jail lobby as she was leaving and later returning to the courthouse to break a window with the box. Once inside the courthouse, Slater says Coe spent nearly five hours vandalizing items and spreading debris.
Property damage is estimated to be over $10,000.
Coe was arrested on Monday, Nov. 18, and booked into Whatcom County Jail once more on suspicion of burglary, malicious mischief, theft and resisting arrest.
County Executive Satpal Sidhu has asked staff to develop ways to strengthen security in the courthouse.