By Joy Dumandan
Photos by Jerry Peck

A vandalism spree in Johnson County is over. Graffiti -- and the Internet -- led police to the suspects.

Broken windows -- ripped-off roofs -- spray-painted graffiti.

"In this case, I was really upset because the paint was still wet,” said vandalism victim Patrick Black. “I could smell that it was wet and I had touched it and it was still not dry.  So it had happened recently enough that I had just barely missed them."

Black found a half-dozen cars that he restores on his lot vandalized. A fire was started on the hood of one car and items stolen from another.

"Basically, these cars represent a connection to my family.  My dad started this out in the Dodge business. My brother and I are close doing this together. I do the mechanical and my brother does the paint and body work."

Black wasn't the only victim. Other Edinburgh residents found their property in the path of these spray-painting vandals.

"When we started seeing this, we thought it was going to be juveniles… because some of the things that they did.  It looked like they were trying different things,” explained Deputy Chief David Lutz of the Edinburgh Police Department.

Police were on the right track, they were juvenile vandals who left behind thousands of dollars in damages. But they also left behind a clue -- the word "juggalo."

That's when police turned to the Internet. When they typed in the word "juggalo," police found it's a reference to the hip-hop group, Insane Clown Posse.

Police were able to trace it to three juveniles -- two 14-year olds and a 12-year old -- and put an end to the vandalism spree.

"Unfortunately, dad and mom are responsible for them until they're 18-years old and it comes out of mom and dad's pocket,” said Lutz. “So a kid's long summer, maybe they could do some odds and ends to make some money to help pay it back."

"I understand that kids make mistakes and that changed my perspective considerably.  I hope that these kids learn from being caught,” said Black.

Damage to Black's cars totals nearly $6,200.

The Johnson County prosecutor said the three juveniles are charged with 12 counts of criminal mischief, one count of aiding in arson and one count of aiding in theft. Their initial hearings are set for July 20.