Austintown police pursue spray-painting hoodlums

Vandals targeted about 15 properties in a neighborhood over the weekend.

By Elise Franco

AUSTINTOWN — Township residents said they want those responsible for a string of weekend vandalism caught before they can strike again.

Several vehicles, homes and properties, including a church parking lot and an Austintown police car, were spray-painted with swear words and vulgar pictures between Saturday and Sunday. About 15 people filed reports with the Austintown Police Department.

Police reports said properties on Huntmere Avenue, Frederick Street, Elmwood Avenue, Forest Hill Drive and Rosemont Avenue were targeted, most likely between 6 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday.

Some residents didn’t want to be identified out of fear their homes would be targeted again, but all said they wanted the culprits caught.

Donald Fisher, 70, of Huntmere Avenue, said he never expected to find what he did when he woke up Sunday morning.

Fisher called police at about 8 a.m. after discovering his 2009 Toyota Matrix had been spray-painted on both passenger side doors.

“I couldn’t believe it. It’s a brand- new car,” he said. “They wrote a swear word on it. I think it’s going to cost at least $1,000.”

Fisher said he and his wife didn’t go to sleep until midnight, so he thinks the damage may have come from one or more young people out late. He said he wishes parents would watch their children more closely.

“I just hope [the police] catch them,” he said.

Police Chief Bob Gavalier said detectives are working to find the person or persons responsible for the damages and are following several leads and conducting interviews.

He said no other details about the investigation could be made now, but he did say police don’t believe the vandalism is related to a May investigation in which more than 20 homes and vehicles were spray-painted in the College Park neighborhood.

efranco@vindy.com