Graffiti vandals strike in area; police arrest teen

Vandals strike at former store, movie theater

Designs have gang meaning, authorities say

Vandals are "tagging" some very public places with gang graffiti, including the empty Wal-Mart and former Virginians Theater in Spotsylvania County.

Police said they charged one man this week after deputies recognized some of his work.

Sheriff's Maj. Howard Smith said Justin "Thayboy" Ruongrat, 18, admitted spraying the huge, elaborate designs outside the former Wal-Mart on State Route 3 and Virginians Theater on Lafayette Boulevard.

Deputy Troy Skebo, a member of the department's gang task force, searched Ruongrat's home on Kensale Way about 9 a.m. Tuesday, finding spray paint and notebooks filled with the same designs, Smith said.

Ruongrat told Skebo he is a member of a Stafford County gang called the "War's Cru," Smith said. He was given the street nickname "Thayboy" because his family is from Thailand.

"He told us it was him and his friends and the reason they were tagging was to show off their artistic ability," the major said.

The group's first known "tag" appeared on the old Wal-Mart building on State Route 3 on July 31.

The graffiti, made up of an indecipherable combination of words and pictures, covers two of the building's four sides.

On Aug. 4, similar graffiti showed up on the Virginians Theater, which closed for good in April 2001 and has most recently been rented by Spotswood Baptist Church for use as a youth center.

Deputy Skebo showed pictures of the tagging to school resource officers. One still had a drawing given to him by a teacher last school year portraying the same designs, Smith said. The deputy was able to identify members of the specific gang, which led him to Ruongrat's home.

"Our school resource officers teach teachers what to look out for when it comes to gang activity and this paid off," Smith said.

Ruongrat was charged with trespassing and vandalism, Smith said.

He was released from the Rappahannock Regional Jail on $1,500 bond.

Smith said the investigation continues, and he expects more arrests.