LIHU‘E – A Seattle man was arrested Thursday morning after a witness watched him allegedly spray graffiti at Kapa‘a Skate Park. The witness called Kaua‘i Police Department while a man was spraying graffiti on the park’s skate ramps, a county
LIHU‘E – A Seattle man was arrested Thursday morning after a witness watched him allegedly spray graffiti at Kapa‘a Skate Park.
The witness called Kaua‘i Police Department while a man was spraying graffiti on the park’s skate ramps, a county press release stated.
A police officer went to the skate park just before 8:30 a.m., according to KPD arrest logs, and arrested Joel “Skye” Mort, 25, for third-degree criminal property damage.
Capt. Michael Contrades said the man had been highlighting existing graffiti. He said he was unsure of what images may have been made.
“The officer did not catch him in the act,” Contrades said in the release. “He was still there when the officer arrived on scene.”
Mort was later released pending a court appearance. He is scheduled to appear in court April 20, according to arrest logs.
Damages to the facility are estimated at $800, according to the release.
A bill moving through the state Legislature would increase penalties for those convicted of criminal property damage by graffiti, who would have to clean up quite a bit more than the damages they have caused.
House Bill 555 would require a convicted person to remove graffiti from all properties within 250 yards of the site of the offense, as long as the property owners consent to it and the removal does not endanger anyone nor is an inconvenience to the public.
