In this week’s Sundays With Seegers, County Commissioner candidate Jake Seegers examines a brutal 30-minute assault on the Laurel Street stairs—an incident that unfolded in the downtown core without intervention. Jake connects the violence to a broader pattern: policies that tolerate instability, avoid enforcement, and increasingly normalize outdoor living. The question is no longer whether it’s working—but whether anyone will change course. Assault on a Landing At 5:02 a.m., February 22, on the stairway behind the downtown Port Angeles fountain, a homeless man—Jake Veach—sat beside his camp, recently established on the first landing from the top. What followed was not a brief altercation or a momentary loss of control. According to the police report, the violence stretched over roughly thirty minutes—an extended, escalating assault carried out in plain view on public property, just below a neighborhood of families. During that time, according to the police report, Mr. Veach was repeatedly kicked, stomped on, and struck by the suspect, Isoble Snow. The report makes clear that he attempted to disengage, at times sitting back down and trying to avoid further conflict with Snow. But the assaults continued—again and again—over a sustained period that should give anyone pause. Thirty minutes. That detail matters. It speaks not only to the brutality of the attack, but to the absence of interruption—no effective intervention, no meaningful disruption, no system stepping in before things escalated further. All of it captured on camera. All of it unfolding on a public pedestrian connection between a residential neighborhood and the downtown core. At approximately 5:33 AM, the violence intensified. The report indicates that the suspect, Isobel Snow, stabbed Mr. Veach in the left tricep multiple times. When he attempted to grab her hand—possibly to disarm her—his right hand was lacerated. Even after the stabbing, the incident did not immediately end. Mr. Veach collapsed, clutching his arm. The suspect moved away, then re-engaged. The confrontation continued before eventually de-escalating into conversation—and even an embrace. At 5:51 AM, the incident was reported. Responding officers arrived to find both individuals next to a large pool of blood on the stair landing. According to officers, Mr. Veach claimed his injuries were self-inflicted or the result of “falling on scissors.” Ms. Snow stated she arrived to find him bleeding and called for help. Historical Context Disclaimer: The following section reflects personal observations and conversations, as well as accounts from individuals living in the area. It is not part of the official police report and has not been independently verified. I met Jake in mid-February. His camp, at the time, was feet from Tumwater Creek. He collected rocks. I happened to have a small stone in my pocket from the beach and offered it to him. He accepted it with appreciation. We talked for about fifteen minutes. Jake told me he came from Idaho, in part because Washington offers more services—specifically, clean drug use supplies. He said he had been living along Tumwater Creek for two to three years. He was candid about his drug use: “Everybody has to use out here. If you’re homeless, you have to.” He appreciated the food, clothing, and supplies available through local programs, including the County’s Harm Reduction Health Clinic. But he also expressed frustration—suggesting, for example, that syringe distribution should require exchanges. More importantly, he expressed a desire to get out. He wanted inpatient treatment. Stability. A way forward. When asked what would happen if enforcement made outdoor living no longer an option, he said he would go to Serenity House temporarily—and then he would “leave town.” A Bit Downstream Later that month, the contents of an abandoned camp spilled down the bank of Tumwater Creek—scattering solid waste across Port of Port Angeles–owned property just north of Jake’s camp. According to a reliable eyewitness, the camp had previously been occupied by Isobel Snow. Signs of drug use were just steps away. The same source also identified Snow’s previous encampment, which had burned to the ground. Prior to the incident on the stairs, Mr. Veach and Ms. Snow reportedly had a history that included a domestic violence no-contact order. The assault on the Laurel Street stairs was captured on camera. But it raises a larger question: how much violence and instability goes unseen—hidden by dense brush, distance, and the constant rush of Tumwater Creek? If this is what unfolds in a visible, monitored location, what is happening in the places we don’t see? When Advocacy Becomes Enablement At the March 17th meeting of the City of Port Angeles City Council, nearly an hour of public comment was delivered. A clear pattern emerged. Speaker after speaker urged the city to allow outdoor camping to continue—many calling for fewer restrictions, or a hands-off approach so long as camps appeared orderly. It did not feel spontaneous. The repetition in language and framing suggested coordination, with many speakers advancing nearly identical ideas. One commenter urged the city to establish areas where unhoused individuals could “exist safely… with sanitation… and protection from harassment.” Another warned that “attempts to prohibit camping and encampments are a clear attack on homeless populations.” Others advocated for designated outdoor communities “where these people can reside in safe, secure… communities,” while one speaker cautioned that banning camping “would be devastating… there’s nowhere else to go.” Perhaps most telling was the suggestion that, “If a campsite is clean and the people aren’t harassing anyone, leave it.” Taken together, the message was consistent: outdoor living should be preserved and protected. But what happened on the Laurel Street stairs raises a difficult question—what does that look like in practice? When Leaders Can’t Say “No” Maybe the stabbing at Laurel Street could have been avoided. Instead, individuals with known instability—living outside despite available shelter capacity—are enabled by a system that provides resources, access, and freedom without consistent expectations or enforcement. This is not an isolated incident—it is a glimpse into a lawless society encouraged to grow at the expense of the lawful. The City of Port Angeles has repeatedly failed to enforce existing trespass laws or meaningfully address unauthorized encampments. The Clallam County Board of Health and Health Officer Allison Berry have refused to comply with their lawful duty to “prevent, control or abate nuisances which are detrimental to public health,” when conditions deteriorate on public or private land. Meanwhile, harm reduction efforts have expanded without sufficient accountability for outcomes. Supplies are distributed widely, and in many cases, are discarded unused, contributing to growing waste in public spaces and sensitive environments. Residents have taken notice. The Lincoln Street Safeway is now commonly referred to by some as the “UnSafeway,” reflecting concerns about open drug use and dealing. Panhandling continues, often unaddressed, contributing to a steady flow of cash into the drug trade. Basic services are widely available—but many are concentrated in the same areas where drug activity is prevalent. Free food is abundant. WSU Extension keeps an active document of local food resources here. Showers are available at Serenity House, Salvation Army, The Answer for Youth (TAFY), and now in the same locker rooms utilized by children and families at the taxpayer-funded William Shore Memorial Pool. Transients are invited to shower Monday through Friday between 5:30 am and 10:30 am. TAFY provides free tents and camping gear and pays for propane tank refills at a nearby gas station—fuel that is often used for unventilated heating sources inside tents. City, Port, and County-owned property has effectively become a largely unregulated option for outdoor camping, substance abuse, and illegal dumping. Clallam Transit connects all of these services with convenience, free of charge. The map below is not exhaustive, but it illustrates the network of services, resources, and lack of enforcement that made the Laurel Street Stairs a prime location for this incident. “If you build it, [they] will come.“ - Field of Dreams, 1989 The Officer Who Said “No” In contrast, one moment in the report stands out. When Ms. Snow asked to smoke a used cigarette from an ashtray while in custody, the arresting officer refused. He followed protocol. He held the line. It’s a small detail—but a telling one. Because, in a system where nearly every request is accommodated, the first “no” can trigger instability. According to the report, Ms. Snow reacted by repeatedly striking her head against the divider in the patrol car. Like a spoiled child who is granted their every request, when finally told “no,” Ms. Snow melted down into a tantrum. That reaction is not random. It reflects a broader pattern—one shaped by a system that too often avoids setting limits. Private Landowners Caught in the Middle Not all stakeholders have accepted this trajectory. The Port of Port Angeles has taken active steps to address trespassing, waste, and environmental damage on its property. During a February 24, 2026 Port Commission meeting, Port Security Lead Jack Lowell outlined efforts to address these issues, including active vegetation management to improve visibility and deter camping, the placement of “No Trespassing” signage across Port property, increased security patrols, and a $70,000 fence installation along 18th Street near the airport, across from Serenity House. Security staff also make near-nightly contact with campers, asking them to move along—some comp
