Prosecutors have yet to file charges against three men who were arrested Wednesday in connection with a weekend graffiti spree in the Cooley Ranch retail area, an official with the district attorney's office said Thursday.

Frank Flethez, 24, of Colton, and Michael Fetherhat, 21, and Kirby Fetherhat, 19, both of Rialto, remained at Central Detention Center in San Bernardino on Thursday afternoon.

Colton City Engineer Amer Jakher estimates that the city spent $1,200 on labor and materials to clean up graffiti on public property over the past three days. He does not know the cost to businesses to pay a contractor to clean up private property.

The recent spate of tagging "was more than usual," he said. "They hit everything they saw. We got a lot of calls over the weekend."

Colton City Councilman John Mitchell, whose district includes Washington Street, said the graffiti tagging stretched from the Mount Vernon Avenue exit at Interstate 215 to Reche Canyon Road along Washington Street.

Speaking to TV cameras at Tuesday's council meeting, he promised viewers that something would be done about the graffiti on street signs, storefronts, office buildings, utility poles, curbs and sidewalks. The next day, Colton police made three arrests.

"I knew they were doing things, but I didn't expect arrests so soon," Mitchell said. "Our chief is very proactive."

Colton City Manager Daryl Parrish said beautifying the city is among the City Council's main goals.

"They take graffiti very seriously," he said.

Angie Hall, receptionist at Sports Fitness USA, saw graffiti on one of the building's walls for the first time last weekend. She applauded the arrests. "That's good, really good, if it will stop the graffiti."

Staff writer Elena Arnold contributed to this report.

Reach Ellen Braunstein at (909) 806-3055 or ebraunstein@pe.com