Deputies may have nabbed prolific graffiti vandal

Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office Deputies have arrested a 17-year-old male they believe to be responsible for a recent rash in graffiti vandalism around Port Orchard.

Deputies responded to a call at 8:10 a.m. on Tuesday of suspicious activity at the deserted Clubhouse Grill restaurant on Mile Hill Drive.

“They saw a couple of kids on a patio, and when cars went by, they ducked down a little bit,” said Deputy Ken Dickenson, who was at the scene at the time of the arrest.

The first deputy to arrive spoke with the group, which consisted of four males and one female, said Dickenson. He let them walk to school, and, after the juveniles left, deputies noticed the fresh graffiti, Dickenson said.

Deputies believe just one of the group was responsible for the graffiti.

“The other four were certainly watching and knew what was happening,” Dickenson said, “but at this point, we think it was the one person who was doing the paint.”

The graffiti near the Clubhouse Grill resembled other graffiti that has recently appeared throughout the city, and ultimately, police arrested the 17-year-old for a total of 19 crimes of malicious mischief.

“It’s despicable that someone would treat another person’s property in this manner,” said Port Orchard Police Chief Chief Al Townsend.

“The costs associated with removing graffiti, both in time and materials, is considerable.”

Port Orchard Police are currently reviewing technology, including portable camera systems, to help catch those responsible for malicious mischief incidents such as graffiti vandalism.

“In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have to worry about selfish miscreants destroying other people’s property,” Townsend said. “But in our world, we have to expend taxpayer dollars to find innovative ways to catch them.”

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