Warren police say charges against David Grohl Alley vandal near

Staff report

WARREN

Warren police have received tips from the public and believe they are making progress in identifying the man who vandalized artwork in David Grohl Alley late Friday.

The alley is just south of Courthouse Square.

A white male is captured on surveillance video damaging about half of the pieces of artwork by putting white spray paint on 11 paintings and a steel sculpture.

Another dozen or so paintings, a second sculpture and other items were not damaged.

Jeff Cole, officer in charge and public-information officer for the Warren Police Department, said he expects charges to be filed soon.

Dan Plant of Champion, who created a metal sculpture of Grohl playing drums, spent several hours Monday and Tuesday removing paint from the sculpture.

One man walking past the repair work and the damaged paintings expressed frustration that someone would damage something that has brought such positive recognition to the city.

“I wish I would have come through here when that kid was here,” the man said, suggesting a type of punishment more personal than criminal charges.

Plant said the vandalism is frustrating to those who care about the alley, which was once an unattractive place but now receives visits from people from around the world.

Plant said the alley is now a stopping point for those visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland or anyone interested in the Warren-born Grohl, who is the frontman for the Foo Fighters and former drummer for Nirvana.

Plant said he was angry when he saw what the vandal had done to his sculpture.

“I just drove by here Saturday and just shook my head,” he said.

“It bothered me a lot, not just mine, but the whole concept,” he said of the artwork on the walls, asphalt and elsewhere. “Nobody ever came back here, but now a lot of people come here,” he said.

Plant said the artists involved will overcome the setback.

“Maybe it will help people to know it’s here and take a negative and make it a positive.”