Two juveniles charged with vandalizing city sports complexes
By CJ HADDAD
cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
Cape Coral police have arrested two juvenile males after vandalizing local sports complexes with spray paint.
Cape Coral Police Department’s Property Crimes Unit took two a pair of 16-year-olds into custody following a July 19 incident.
According to CCPD officials, officers responded to the Cape Coral Sports Complex at roughly 5 p.m. regarding criminal mischief.
“Extensive graffiti in blue spray paint was discovered on a portable storage unit, a trash can, multiple areas of the parking lot, and cement blocks at the baseball fields,” a CCPD release stated. “The estimated cost for cleanup and repair for this property damage was calculated at $1,342.60.”
On July 21 at 8:41 a.m., officers responded to the Storm Football Complex after similar graffiti was found inside the men’s restroom and around the facility, officials said.
“These markings included vulgar language, a smiley face with X’s for eyes, and the word ‘Salt,'” the release stated. “The total damages for the Storm Football Complex were documented at $2,248.86.”
CCPD officials stated that during the investigation, police located blue spray paint cans and other related evidence. Police state that a forensic examination of a cellphone associated with the case revealed photographs taken by the offenders, in which the males were seen posing in front of the graffiti they created at both park locations. The investigation confirmed the use of the nicknames for the juveniles, further substantiating their involvement.
Both males were placed under arrest and taken to the Lee County Jail and charged with criminal mischief $1,000 or greater, a third-degree felony.