TACOMA, Wash. (KOMO) — A woman wielding a hammer in Tacoma during the weekend was charged with criminal mischief, as she was accused of smashing 56 windows at more than a dozen businesses.
That woman, 47-year-old Tami Areson, is no stranger to police or prison in Washington. She is now held, pending the outcome of a mental health evaluation, to determine her competency to stand trial.
Hopefully. she gets to help that she needs,” Crystal Nguyen told KOMO. She owns Peppermint Tuna, a vintage clothing store, with plywood now replacing three large glass windows along her storefront.The vandalism occurred early Saturday morning. A call to 911 reporting vandalism sent Tacoma police to 9th Street and Broadway at about 3 a.m.
Eyewitnesses gave officers a description of the woman they saw and which way she was headed. Officers eventually found Areson in The Winthrop, an apartment building on Broadway, where business owners told KOMO is where she lives.
Tacoma police said she initially resisted arrest, but they succeeded in taking her into custody. Officers said they read Areson her Miranda Rights, but that she waived that reading.
At that time, Areson also told officers that she smashed the windows because she wanted the government’s attention and that “there were two men stalking her mind and infiltrating her technology,” according to court documents.
Areson is also charged with resisting arrest.
Tacoma police called the city’s Board Up group to secure the businesses. KOMO also asked the city if it’s offering any financial help to these business owners.
Council Member Sarah Rumbaugh responded, telling KOMO that the Theater District is a gem.
We need to find solutions to preserve cultural and business spaces like this that make Tacoma the beautiful city it is. I am elevating all the concerns I heard to the City Manager, and have begun discussions about how the City can partner on long-term solutions,” Rumbaugh wrote in a statement.The businesses hit along Antique Row and surrounding streets are locally owned.
"You know, I am glad that she didn’t break all of my windows. She did break a lot of windows,” said Anh Le, co-owner of Cremella Cafe.
Cremella Cafe has been in business for just more than a year now, with Le telling KOMO this is the fourth time they’ve been hit. This time, however, a total of seven windows were broken out.
“We’re waiting for a quote, but our rough estimation is about $25,000,” said Le. “And this plywood and we really hate it because we really pride ourselves to be a nice coffee shop.”
So, instead of getting his day off while the café is closed on Mondays, Le is painting the plywood.
“When people walk into the business, it’s still nice and inviting,” said Le.
So, what makes him want to stay in business in this part of Tacoma?
”This neighborhood is awesome. All of the small business on the street and everybody that comes into the door is awesome and yes, this is pretty bad and it will cost us a little bit of money but it’s just one bad example. Everyone else and the neighborhood is just cool and amazing,” Le answered.
A few hours after Le painted his new plywood windows, Nguyen did the same across the street at her store, painting a scene that shows what happened to the window now covered with plywood.
She painted a hammer and the words, “Where’s the $20, Brian?” which the woman could be heard in the surveillance video of the window getting smashed.
Nguyen told KOMO she’s still waiting on word from her landlord on how and when the glass will be replaced and who’s going to pay for the repairs.
Nguyen also said that the business owners are now working on a plan to hold a block party to help pay for the damage, if insurance doesn’t cover all of the costs.
Tacoma police identified more than a dozen businesses with large windows cracked, shattered, or completely busted out, including the following:
- Brandy's Attic at 755-759 Broadway
- Diloretos Café at 786 Commerce St
- Sunnys at 785 Broadway
- Peppermint Tuna at 783 Broadway
- The Winthrop at 771-783 Broadway
- Syc at 763 Broadway
- La Galerie at 753-755 Broadway
- What? Shoppe at 749 Broadway
- Urban Squirrel at 747 Broadway
- Sanford And Son's Antiques at 743-745 Broadway
- Lily Pad Antiques at 756 Broadway
- Memory Lane Toys at 756 Broadway
- Vessel Vintage Collective at 760 Broadway
- Destiny City Tattoo at 762 Broadway
- Cremello Café at 764 Broadway
Areson’s criminal record goes back more than 25 years. She’s been found guilty and served time in prison for several felonies, according to state records. Areson twice was found guilty of possession of heroin plus identity theft in Kitsap County.
Her mental evaluation is expected to take about two weeks. She’ll have a scheduled court appearance with those findings for a Pierce County judge to determine the next steps in this case.
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