BELLEVILLE - After receiving tips from the public, the police arrested four men accused of spray painting graffiti at Belleville's skateboard park in September.

Thomas G. King, 20, of 250 Rayburn Drive, Apt. 8, Belleville; Jeff A. Trail, 18, of 29 S. Eighth St., Belleville; Jeremy M. Whitten, 18, of 539 N. Sixth St., Belleville; and Joshua M. Litteken, 17, of 4849 State Route 15, Freeburg, all were charged with criminal damage to government supported property.

The bail for each suspect was set at $10,000.

Whitten and Litteken have posted bond. King and Trail remain jailed.

Police arrested King on Nov. 9. The others were arrested Nov. 10. All were charged by prosecutors on Thursday.

Belleville Police Lt. Roger Barfield said tips from the public led police to the suspects who created so much havoc at the skate park.

Workers with the Belleville Parks and Recreation Department spent 40 hours removing the graffiti, which was very difficult to get off the walls.

Jerry Hopfinger, director of the parks department, said his workers used a concoction of several paint strippers and various cleaners that cost about $205 to remove the stubborn stains.

"We had to pull five men off of their jobs to do the cleanup," Hopfinger said. "This took them away from the other chores they have like cutting grass, picking up litter, cleaning rest rooms, installing playgrounds or whatever else we have going on."

Hopfinger described what the suspects did "totally uncalled for. I hope they throw the book at them."