1 charged, another sought in graffiti case

By DOUG HARLOW


FARMINGTON -- Police on Wednesday charged a 21-year-old Freeman Township man in connection with vandalism and graffiti in Strong last week, but they are not releasing his name.

Franklin County sheriff's Dep uty Michelle St. Clair said the man was issued a summons to appear in court on a charge of criminal mischief, but was not arrested. She said his name was withheld Wednesday to not interrupt the investigation.

A second suspect is being sought in the case.

A short press release on the incident was faxed to media outlets just after 4 p.m. Wednesday. Attempts to reach other investigators to obtain the man's name were unsuccessful late Wednesday.

Vandals spray-painted threats and obscenities Aug. 17 on Strong Elementary School and damaged nearby EJ's market on North Main Street.

The graffiti included a reference to a shooting, but St. Clair said the Freeman Township man appeared not to have been the one making the threat.

"Right now, the reason we are sending out the press release is to tell the public these people are being caught," St. Clair said Wednesday night. "We're not going to release the name because it's going to jeopardize the rest of the investigation."

In addition to the spray paint, vandals tipped over a soda machine at the store and tore down a sign painted by a local artist. At the school, a door was kicked in and graffiti sprayed across the outside walls, roof, and skylights.

Using white, black, green, red and orange spray paint, the vandals "tagged" the walls with gang-style designs, names and obscenities, specifically to a girl, police said.

They also wrote, "Shooting is coming -- believe."

The markings challenged police to find them, insulted the town of Strong and referred negatively to Mt. Blue High School in Farmington.

Police last week believed the threats were written by someone who was angry and possibly intended to carry out a shooting. St. Clair said residents were furious at the affront and demanded action.

Now, she said, it appears the incident might have just been a "stupid prank," with no real threat intended.

"There was no threat in this person's mind," she said. "We don't feel the school is in jeopardy. We just wanted to put the parents and people in Strong at ease."

The criminal mischief charge could be upgraded to aggravated criminal mischief, once the district attorney gets the case. DNA and other evidence lifted from both locations is being analyzed at the state crime laboratory in Augusta.

Police said the public helped the investigation by providing valuable information.

Doug Harlow -- 861-9244