Neighbors tell KIRO 7 someone has dumped hundreds of unused needles in their neighborhood in the Nisqually area of Thurston County near 6th Avenue SE in the last month.
"I've picked up over 300 hundred,” said neighbor Molly Miller. “They've never been used."
Miller said the needles are dumped weekly, sometimes daily, including Thursday when she counted six piles, even near a school bus stop.
"Somebody seen a kid here at the bus stop this morning pick one up,” said Miller, who is now worried and upset. “I have kids and I have a lot of friends in this neighborhood who walk their dogs every day."
Her neighbor Sean Trepanier said he’s also picked up unused needles.
“I can’t even believe the amount of needles,” said Trepanier. “Just last night I picked up 30 to 40 needles right down the road.”
Some neighbors here feel more could be done by law enforcement to address what’s happening.
"We're not getting nothing,” said Miller. “No help at all."
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office tells KIRO 7 deputies have picked up some needles in the neighborhood but can’t themselves safely handle the volume of needles that have been seen in the area recently.
Deputies said a private company did clean up needles but left the department with a costly bill so they’re now working with county roads crews for cleanup.
The sheriff’s office said it plans to put emphasis patrols in the neighborhood, which is already a focus area for deputies.
Neighbors we spoke with aren’t sure why someone would leave the needles scattered around their neighborhood.
"They look like they're just driving slowly through the neighborhood and just take a pile and drop them out the window,” said Trepanier.
Some neighbors are fed up.
"Something's got to change or something bad is going to happen down here,” said Miller.
Thurston County deputies said they are not investigating, beyond emphasis patrols, but encourage neighbors to report piles of needles and suspicious activity.
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