PORT TOWNSEND – Parts of Port Townsend have been marked with graffiti in recent weeks, and police believe the same person – possibly someone with the initials “CEL” – could be responsible.

“It’s a budding problem that we’re definitely taking notice of,” Port Townsend Police Sgt. Ed Green said.

“It’s on the rise. We don’t know who’s doing it yet.”

About 11:30 a.m. Monday – roughly the same time city public works maintenance workers were scrubbing green spray paint off a guardrail on Water Street – Port Townsend police officers were dispatched to Manresa Castle, where graffiti had been spotted on a brick wall surrounding the historical hotel.

These are only two of about a half-dozen cases that have popped up in Port Townsend in the past two weeks, Green said.

Other locations that have been hit: Safeway, 442 W. Sims Way; Phoenix Rising, 696 Water St.; and the McCarron Building, 915 Sheridan St.

In each case, green paint was used and appeared to read “CEL,” but Green said each graffito is difficult for him to make out because of the style of the lettering.

“It is literally that strange writing and you can’t make out what it says,” Green said.