Youths Arrested On Vandalism Charges

In Graffiti Incident

Town police arrested two teenage boys late on the night of December 26, following an incident in which the youths allegedly used spray paint to deface a largely vacant commercial building with graffiti.

Police said that while on routine patrol about 10:39 pm in the commercial parking lot at 5 Queen Street, they spotted two youths spray-painting graffiti onto the building.

The largely-vacant red-brick structure formerly held a Grand Union supermarket and a Brooks Pharmacy. The only remaining business there is a Wachovia Bank. The building has been a target of vandalism since the supermarket closed several years ago.

The youths spotted the police and then ran off. Police used their German shepherd, Baro, to search for the boys, after which they were located, police said.

Police arrested each of the two boys on charges of first-degree criminal mischief and interfering with police. First-degree criminal mischief, which is a felony, represents more than $1,500 worth of vandalism.

Both boys were booked on the criminal charges at the police station, after which they were released on written promises to appear January 12 in Danbury Juvenile Offender Court.

Because the youths are under age 18, their identities are shielded from public disclosure by state law.