by Mandi Johnson

Orcas Power and Light Cooperative closed its offices in Eastsound, Friday Harbor and Lopez on Feb. 11 after the words “prepare to die” were found spray painted on the wall of the Orcas Island headquarters.

“OPALCO will not tolerate acts of vandalism or threats of violence,” said Public Relations Administrator Suzanne Olson. “Our chief concern is for the safety of our employees and we are taking measures to ensure that safety.”

All OPALCO employees were sent home after the vandalism was discovered. The spray-painted threats occurred a few days after a new OPALCO employee had been assaulted in his home.

The sheriff’s office received a call about a home invasion that had happened at 3 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 8. An unknown assailant allegedly broke into the employee’s home, held a gun to his head, threatened the employee’s family and then left.

“At this point in time we’re following up on some leads. My detective over there has been investigating since Monday,” said San Juan County Sheriff Ron Krebs. “It’s obviously someone with a lot of anger.”

Krebs also stated that the Sheriff’s Office is looking for any information the community can provide about the perpetrator.

“Someone has to know something about who is doing this,” he said.

Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call 911 or the anonymous tip line at 370-7629.