Arrest Made In Rash Of Vandalisms

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Local law enforcement have arrested two individuals in connection with a rash of vandalism incidents that took place during the weekend after the pair reportedly made threats while brandishing a weapon inside Rotary Park.

Reports regarding the vandalism incidents began coming in through the Lawrenceburg Police Department shortly after 7:00 a.m. Friday. Officers were first summoned to Personal Touch Collision Center on Buffalo Road around 7:11 a.m. where Cheryl French reported had arrived that morning to find someone had shot three windows from the building “with what appeared to be some type of air gun.” Damages there were estimated at $300.

At 7:38 a.m. officers made their way to Marston Street where a resident had discovered that a rear window had been shot from his 1996 Dodge Caravan. Owner Huron B. Speakman estimated loss at $400.

Just before 8:00 a.m. officers made their third stop at the 209 Jackson Street home of Stacy Maldonado. Maldonado reported that a passenger window had been shot from their 1996 GMC truck, resulting in approximate damages of $150.

At 9:30 a.m. officers found themselves dispatched to a business on the Lawrenceburg Public Square. Roy Ledbetter of Ledbetter Drug Company reported that someone had shot holes through a window and door glass at the business with what appeared to be a BB gun. Damages there were estimated to be $150.

At 9:45 officers made their way to the opposite side of the square where Doug Salsman with Providence Hal reported that five panes of glass, valued at some $1,200, had been damaged in a like manner.

During the last such call of the day officers met with Melissa Leigh Orton at her 870 Gaither Avenue home. Orton reported someone had shot through a bedroom window. Officers noted that a BB was still embedded in the glass. Damages, they report, totaled $250.

The last such report came in on Monday morning when employees arrived for work at South Central Human Resources Agency on the Public Square. Linda Aldridge reported that a rear window had been busted out of a 1998 GMC Safari transportation van that had been left parked at the office. Officers noted that the damage appeared to have been inflicted through use of a BB/pellet gun or sling shot. Damages there were estimated to total $100.

Lawrenceburg Police Chief Judy Moore reports that on Saturday an officer on patrol was flagged down at Rotary Park. Individuals there reported that two persons had been waving a weapon about in a threatening manner at people utilizing the park. The officer, Jeff Gibbons, was able to obtain descriptions of the suspects as well as a suspect vehicle. Moore indicates that from those descriptions Gibbons was able to ascertain possible identities of those involved, then notify other officers.

According to Moore officers made their way to a nearby apartment complex where one of the suspects resides. They located the suspect vehicle in the parking lot, then spotted both suspects on a balcony. When they approached the apartment officers report they were allowed inside. Once inside they note that the weapon, a BB gun, was lying in plain view.

Moore explains, “Due to the excellent follow-up investigation of these officers, they got confessions regarding the incident at Rotary Park and regarding numerous vandalisms that were done around town.”

Arrested on one count each of felony vandalism were Markus James French, 19, and Corday B. Jones, age 21. Moore indicates that additional charges will be sought against both when evidence is presented for consideration by the Lawrence County Grand Jury.