Suspected tagger arrested for vandalizing businesses and property
By Dan Thesman on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
MILTON-FREEWATER – A teenage boy suspected of committing 15 to 20 incidents of defacing property within city limits by painting the word “SOOK” on both public and private properties was detained Tuesday night by the Milton-Freewater Police Department on the 1000 block of North Main Street.
The 14-year-old boy was captured on surveillance video and ultimately admitted he was the subject seen in the video. He was in possession of a can of black shoe paint which was confiscated as evidence, along with a backpack. The backpack was not opened but was also seized as possible evidence for later examination pursuant to a warrant.
MFPD Chief Doug Boedigheimer said depending on the total dollar amount caused between all incidents, the suspect could be charged with a felony crime.
The teenage boy was not transported and lodged as a juvenile, as Boedigheimer said this offense does not fit the lodging criteria for lodging juveniles under Oregon law. However, the suspect’s mother was contacted, responded, and took custody of her son.
The case is ongoing and now being handled by a MFPD detective.
