Waitsburg Grocery vandalized in early hours

WAITSBURG-Early morning on Monday, June 1, glass from one of the front doors as well as glass from a side door were broken in a possible attempt to gain entry at the Waitsburg Grocery on Main Street.

Video from the store shows the same vehicle passing in front of the store early Monday morning nine different times, with two suspects rattling the front door at 1:45 a.m.

Owner Jaime Smit-McMillen said that the glass on a side door was broken and the security bar was removed. The end caps from the bar were then thrown through the glass on the front door at 2:27 a.m.

Once the window was broken, store video captured the suspects running away without entering the store. The suspects were allegedly stopped by a passerby who questioned the two males who claimed they were chasing the window breakers. The passerby took their license plate number and called the Walla Walla County Sheriff department.

Smit-McMillen reported that no theft from the store occurred and that when her employee arrived at 4 a.m. a WWCS deputy was stationed in front of the store.

Undersheriff Joe Klundt stated in an email that "Two suspects have been identified but they are not in custody at this time. Probable cause is being build (sic) and the Deputies are trying to get video from the store and or the bank across the street. The vandalism is being investigated and charges will be filed if it is determined that the subjects that have been identified are in fact responsible for the damage to the store."

The Times will update when further information becomes available.