Staff Reports
Columbus police have two 16-year-old juveniles from Columbus in custody in regards to the extensive spray paint vandalism that occurred Friday night into Saturday morning in Columbus, and are searching for a third, said Lt. Matt Harris, police spokesman.
The two juveniles in custody were taken to the Bartholomew County Youth Services Center where they are being held in detention.
Police were able to identify the juvenile suspects Saturday afternoon after what officers described as “a ton” of tips from the public about the extensive vandalism in which the juveniles used spray paint to damage homes, churches, schools, businesses and vehicles in downtown Columbus area.
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The juveniles are also accused of damaging homes and vehicles in an area north of 25th Street in the 2500 to 2700 block of Pearl Street and nearby Lafayette Avenue.
Columbus police spokesman Matt Harris said nearly every officer on duty was documenting the damage Saturday morning, as residents awoke to find the damage.
The spray paint included racist and homophobic graffiti, profanity and references to COVID-19, among other messages.
Much of the spray painting appeared to have been done as the vandals traveled down alleyways in the downtown area, seemingly unaware that much of the area has security cameras, including some cameras installed by the city. Social media images were shared online and with police, one showing three juveniles walking down an alley, one with a spray paint can in his hand while another attempts to open a vehicle door.
The vandalism, which includes at least 50 separate damage reports, included paint sprayed on the signature sculpture Large Arch in front of the Bartholomew County Public Library, and on churches, funeral homes, schools and vehicles. The wall surrounding the Inn at Irwin Gardens in downtown Columbus was also spray-painted.
Harris said the damage is believed to have occurred overnight, Friday into Saturday, and whoever did this also broke into vehicles in addition to spray painting them. The damage included the vandals spray painting the inside of at least one expensive car after breaking into it.
The back door of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce was vandalized and several restaurants in the Fourth and Fifth street areas between Washington and Franklin streets were also damaged.
“The damage to some of the pieces of art — this is just sickening,” Harris said.
Columbus police asked local residents to call them if they had footage from security cameras or doorbell cameras which police use to identify the culprits. Some images and videos were shared with police.
Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop released a statement Saturday afternoon saying the incidents of damage to local homes, businesses, churches schools and works of art shock the conscience in normal times, but amid the COVID-19 public health crisis, “it is even more disturbing.”
“We have worked quickly to mobilize efforts to remove or cover graffiti in public locations,” Lienhoop said. “I want to assure the public that at this time we are unaware of any physical threats against residents, students or business owners.”
Lienhoop said city officials are truly saddened by the vandalism, and that regrettably, “incidents like these have become all too common in today’s society.”
“But, let me be clear when I say that hate in any form is neither accepted, wanted nor tolerated in Columbus, Indiana,” the mayor said. “This unacceptable turn of events is further evidence of our need to unite as a community. We are all in this together. If this behavior does nothing more, I hope it encourages honest and frank dialogue about the need for our community to set aside differences and come together as neighbors because it’s the right thing to do.”
The Columbus Police Department is urging anyone who had property damage to homes, vehicles or any property from the spray painting to contact police to file a report so the department can document the extent of the damage. Even if the property owner has already cleaned up the spray paint, the police would like to have a report, Harris said. To make a report, call the department at 812-376-2600.
Police have not released a damage amount, saying they are waiting for all the damage reports to be filed before providing an estimate.
The police department also expressed its gratitude to the public, with Harris saying officers received “tons of calls,” messages and other help in identifying the suspects.
Columbus police posted the following statement on their social media page:
“With everything going on the world right now, we should not have to deal with this.
Families who are out of work and struggling through each day should not have to deal with this.
People who work hard and woke up this morning to find that their car was broken into or had try to remove a vulgar word spray painted on their vehicle should not have to deal with this.
The business owner who is fighting with everything they have to keep his/her doors open should not have to deal with this.
There is absolutely no reason in the world that anyone should spray paint a famous historical sculpture that has been in front of our library for nearly 50 years. There is no reason that a funeral home, church, or school should be vandalized.”
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Anyone who had property damage from the spray painting incident, even if the owner has already cleaned up the damage, is asked to call the Columbus Police Department at (812) 376-2600 to file a police report.
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