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GRINCH BUSTERS – The Swinomish Police quickly restored the holiday spirit at the Shelter Bay home of Bobbie Butterworth on Sunday, after vandals destroyed the Christmas nativity scene on her front lawn sometime Friday night. Shown here, from left, are Swinomish Police Detective Larry Yonally, Chief Andrew Thorne, Officers Carl Pilcher and Steve Roukie, Bobbie Butterworth, Sgt. Dave Heenan and Officers James Schwahn, John Riddle, Skylar Deffinbaugh, Hank Fauvelle, Val Lockrem with Earl Cowan in back and Sgt. Martin Radley. – Photo courtesy of Swinomish Police Department
Bobbie Butterworth walked out of her Shelter Bay home on Saturday to a heartbreaking sight — the nativity scene in her front yard had been smashed to bits.
Swinomish Police Chief Andrew Thorne said Butterworth told police that neighbors reported hearing noises Friday night.
In the morning, when Butter-worth discovered that the figures in her nativity scene had been destroyed, she called the police.
Swinomish Officer Aaron Nelson responded to the call.
For years, the Butterworth’s Skokomish Way home in Shelter Bay has been the site of festive holiday decorations. The nativity scene was a tradition she and her husband, Bert, started several years ago.
Bert died in March.
According to Chief Thorne, when Officer Nelson’s shift ended, he went home and told his wife what happened. The Nelsons decided that Butterworth’s display had to be replaced.
The Butterworths had purchas-ed their display from Costco about four years ago for around $300.
Chief Thorne said that Officer Nelson has a friend who works for Costco, and the treasure hunt began.
Nelson’s Costco friend called all the retailers’ locations and found there were only two left in the entire state of Washington — one was in Spokane, and the other in Tukwila.
Swinomish Police Sgt. Martin Radley went on a sculpture retrieval mission. On his own time and own gas, he made the 150-mile round trip to pick up the new nativity scene.
Sunday evening, almost the entire Swinomish Police Department — 15 police officers and numerous police vehicles with their lights flashing — showed up at Butterworth’s home.
While neighbors were gawk-ing, they set up the new nativity scene.
“I was in total shock,” said Butterworth.
“From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the Swinomish Police Department. They are wonderful, I’m so grateful.”
Widowed just months ago, the nativity scene was important to her. “My husband started this tradition, she said, “this is in tribute to him.”
Chief Thorne said he is proud of the kindness demonstrated by his department. “Every single one of these guys would have done the same thing,” he said.
The vandalism is still under investigation, Thorne said.
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