Public turns in graffiti 'artists'
Posted by Tag One on Monday, September 21, 2009
Under: Busted
September 21, 2009
John BurmanPolice have busted three graffiti painters in one day with the help of citizens who called 911 to complain.
Sergeant Terri-Lynn Collings says police are pleased with the phone calls – all in a five-hour period Saturday – because “for the most part that’s how (police are) going to get these people arrested.”
Saturday afternoon about 4:30 p.m., some called to say a trio of youths were painting the railway bridge on James Street North south of Strachan Street.
The group scattered when police showed up but two were arrested after a brief chase. Once the officers sorted out who was doing what, they charged an 18-year-old Hamilton man with mischief under $5,000 and released the other two because they were not involved in the painting.
At 8:30 p.m. another witness called police about youths painting the wall of Highview School on Queensdale Avenue East.
The caller told police the painter was wearing a red baseball cap. Sure enough, as police rolled down Queensdale heading for the call they spotted a guy with a red cap running in the opposite direction. A quick check found the running man had paint on his hands and spray paint cans in his pockets. The 16-year-old was arrested and then released to his parents under the pre-charge diversion program.
Half an hour later, a citizen passing the top of the Wentworth stairs spotted two youths and a girl at the top of the stairs. One was applying paint to a cable box in the area.
Police moved in again and found an ‘artist’ had decorated a cable box, a mail box and an historical site plaque. A 19-year-old Hamilton man was arrested and charged with mischief under $5,000.
In : Busted
