Man arrested for vandalism
By Elaine Forman
One unidentified man, 19, was arrested Tuesday morning in connection with close to 30 reported cases of vandalism involving graffiti that occurred Sunday night and Monday morning.
Miles City Police Chief Doug Colombik said the investigation is continuing.
Charging documents had not been filed by presstime, so the charge(s) were not named but it is a felony crime, Colombik said.
All the cases involved spray painting. Mostly buildings were targeted, but one Custer County Sheriff's Department patrol car was also painted.
Some of the locations had been spray painted with gang symbols and signs.
Before the arrest, Colombik called the perpetrators "gang wanna-bes" rather than actual gang members.
Among the buildings hit were Arby's, Custer Villa Apartments (Southgate Meadows), Assembly of God Church (Southgate Meadows), MidRiver's Main Street building, Custer County District High School, Garfield School, Carlson Machine Shop (114 N. Third St.), AllWaste Container Services (3415 Edgewood Ave.), Miles City Real Estate (Valley Drive East and Main Street), and the old Beacon Carter and Parkside Convenience Store (305 Main St.).
There was no total damage estimate as of Tuesday morning.