Three Arnold teenagers allegedly were caught spray-painting the skate park ramps at Ferd B. Lang Park in Arnold, and police believe the 14-year-old boys previously vandalized the park’s restrooms. The damage from all four incidents of vandalism at the park was estimated at about $2,250, Arnold Police reported.
Officers were called to the park, 1820 Old Lemay Ferry Road, at about 5:30 p.m. Aug. 16 when the teens reportedly were seen vandalizing the ramps in the skate park. An officer arrived and allegedly saw the teens painting the ramps with words and symbols similar to those painted inside the park’s men’s and woman’s restrooms during three separate incidents earlier this year, the report said.
The boys reportedly painted the words “St. Louis” and “OK” on the ramps, and they drew crowns with blue paint. One of the teens allegedly was holding spray paint cans with colors that matched the graffiti on the ramps. The cost to clean up the graffiti painted on the ramps on Aug. 16 on the ramps was estimated $250, according to the report.
The three teens were turned over to juvenile authorities following their arrest, Detective Lt. Jeremy Christopher said.
The teens also are suspected of being involved in an April 11 incident when a sink was ripped off the wall and a toilet and all the toilet paper holders were broken in the women’s restroom, and toilet paper was thrown around the room. Additionally, graffiti was found sprayed on the walls, urinals and stall partitions in the men’s room, and toilet paper holders also were broken off the wall in that restroom. The damage from that incident was estimated at about $1,000, the report said.
On May 22, Arnold Police discovered white paint had been used to write words and draw symbols on the outside of the restroom building, and black-and-orange paint was used to spray graffiti on the interior walls of the men’s restroom. The cost to clean up that graffiti was estimated at about $500, according to the report.
On June 20, graffiti was spray-painted on the rear men’s bathroom walls and mirrors, and that damage was estimated at about $500, Arnold Police reported.