Friday, October 24, 2008

Police: Resident cuffed, caught spraying graffiti

Jay AnthonyPortsmouth police photo

PORTSMOUTH — Jay Anthony was spray-painting graffiti on a downtown wall Tuesday afternoon when Officer Chris Kiberd pulled up in a cruiser behind him, leading to Anthony’s arrest, say police.

Anthony, 29, of 769 State St., is charged with a class A misdemeanor count of criminal mischief-vandalism, based on a witness call to police.

Lt. Dante Puopolo said police dispatchers were called Oct. 21 at 4:03 p.m. by someone reporting a man in black clothing and a black hat, spraying paint on a brick wall near the Vaughn Mall. When Officer Kiberd drove into the area, he saw Anthony painting a multi-colored symbol on the wall and seized a can of paint, said Puopolo.

The “nondescript” symbol was still wet and sticky to the touch, said the police lieutenant, adding Anthony told police it was the first time he sprayed graffiti.

Local police have repeatedly reminded the community that graffiti is not viewed by the department as street art, but as acts of vandalism. Typically people who are convicted of the crimes in the District Court are fined and ordered to perform community servic

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