Two men charged in Washington state substation attacks that left thousands without power on Christmas Day
TACOMA, WASHINGTON: In connection with the attacks on four power substations in Washington state which left 14,000 people without electricity on Christmas Day, two individuals have been arrested. Jeremy Crahan and Matthew Greenwood planned to take down the power in order to attempt a burglary.
According to the criminal complaint submitted in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, the pair admitted to investigators that the entire purpose of their scheme was to steal a cash register from a nearby business. The men cut off the locals' power, leaving them with a dark and chilly holiday weekend, then they punched a hole in a business' lock and took its cash register. Customers lost power throughout the holidays as a result of the overnight attacks on the substations in Pierce County which also resulted in damage of roughly $3 million. Crahan, 40, and Greenwood, 32, who were arrested on December 31, are accused of possessing an unregistered handgun and conspiring to harm energy facilities. The Graham, Elk Plain, Kapowsin, and Hemlock, were the four substations that were chosen as targets.
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For the conspiracy accusation and 10 years for having an unlicensed firearm in their hands, Crahan and Greenwood may receive up to 20 years in jail. According to US Attorney Nick Brown for the Western District of Washington, the men were initially identified as probable suspects through cellphone data and security footage. A pickup truck and one man are seen in photos of the suspect taken at one of the Tacoma Power substations, as per a Daily Mail report. A truck resembling that one was linked to the incidents. Officials added that a search uncovered several components of the suspects' unique attire. Agents also discovered two unregistered short-barreled weapons while searching. One of the confiscated weapons had an aftermarket silencer attached to it. One law enforcement official suggested last week that those responsible for the incident might have been attempting to "send a message."
According to Sergeant Darren Moss, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department is looking into the instances. Regarding the conceivable reason, Sergeant Moss remarked, "We can't confirm that." “But obviously, we are going to look at it that way. Four of them in one day. On Christmas Day. That screams, ‘I want to make a point.’ What point do they want to make? I don't know.” A worker informed law enforcement about a burglary at one of the targets which is how they first learned about the attacks. Although there was no evidence of property theft, deputies discovered equipment that had been damaged and signs of forced entry. Several hours after the initial call, deputies were summoned to the second substation for a new complaint of a break-in. At around the same time, deputies looked into the third and fourth break-ins which likewise resulted in no property being stolen but equipment damage.
