Vandals hit five targets over the weekend, spray painting walls and vehicles in the area of Locust and Spring streets.
The vandalism, all involving red spray paint, occurred over the weekend. Among those hit were Warren County Administrative Offices, Warren Academy, and CPS Probation.
Two vehicles were also painted, a county pickup used by the Assessor of Property and a van used by the county’s Litter Program.
“At some point over the weekend, the buildings and vehicles were tagged,” said McMinnville Police Department Det. Todd Rowland. “We got the call this morning. The school has video cameras. We’ve pulled the footage from the cameras to review it. Hopefully, we can find out who did this.”
Warren County Sheriff’s Department is also assisting with the investigation due to it involving a school.
The vandals used gang signs, swastikas, and vulgarity.
It appears the vandals tried to initial their work, or point the finger of suspicion in the direction of someone else, by placing “R was hear” and “so was BJ” on the wall of the alternative school.
Rowland says the use of gang signs points to vandals who are not gang associated.
“There was Crips tagging and Blood tagging, so we do not feel like it was anyone who is gang affiliated,” said Rowland. “This is going to cost a lot of money to repair. They sprayed the headlight lenses on the van. If that won’t come off, they’ll have to be replaced.”
As for the aftermath, it will be the property owners who will be required to clean up the mess – barring the capture of the vandals. Under the city’s graffiti ordinance, the property owners have 10 days to clean up the graffiti before the city comes in and cleans it and charges the property owners for the job.
In the case of the vandals, if they are caught, they will be required to make restitution for any damage they cause, as well as serving any sentence the court might impose. The city ordinance also says if vandals are identified prior to the clean-up being done by the owners or the city, then the vandals would have just 72 hours to clean up the mess at their own expense.