Man Arrested for Spraying Graffiti at Simplot Square
May 24, 2004

Police think they know who sprayed graffiti all over Pocatello's Simplot Square. But they're waiting to make an arrest until cleanup costs are estimated.

That's because if cleanup costs are more than a $1000, then the crime is a felony.

What used to be a beautiful Simplot Square is an eyesore today.

"It's a real shame that kids have to come and ruin such a beautiful place as this," says Kent Risher, a Pocatello resident.

Much of the graffiti all over the square reads ‘death in December.’

"Apparently there is a local band that is named death in December so I think that's what it was," says Bruce Wheatley, of the Pocatello Police, "It's not gang-related; we can say that. We talked with the individual that is responsible for doing this."

"The police have done their investigating reporting and we're in trying to clean it up. We start out with some vandalism remover and some times if we get it early that'll take it off," says Parks Superintendent Alan Green.

The city doesn't know how many tax dollars will pay for this. But it's not going to be cheap.

"That's pretty hard because I you know I have to spend a lot of money to keep myself going and I don't want to pay no more taxes to clean this stuff up," says Dorsey Hill, whose business was vandalized.

But Simplot Square isn't the only victim. About three nearby businesses are cleaning up as well.

"I was very angry when it happened. Just like you are when someone robs your business or something but I've calmed down about it and recognized that it's not Pocatello. You know it just doesn't fit with our community," says Hill.

It's a selfish act that's wasting tax dollars and limited city resources.

Police aren't releasing the suspect’s name, that's because he hasn't been arrested yet.

But we do know he's 22-years-old, and according to the graffiti, his initials are CM.