borough
Police arrest one of three
suspected graffiti artists
Tagger sprayed name on various buildings in
borough’s downtown
BY GLORIA STRAVELLI
Staff Writer
His identity no longer an "enigma," a Tinton Falls teen has been arrested for spray-painting graffiti on buildings and vehicles in downtown Red Bank.
According to Red Bank police, the 17-year-old, whose tag is "Enigma," was charged under state statutes Jan. 19 with two counts of criminal mischief and the case has been referred to the Family Division of State Superior Court in Freehold.
The charges carry possible penalties of monetary restitution to the property owners as well as community service.
One of several graffiti artists at work in the downtown, the teen sprayed the tag "Enigma" on the exterior of buildings at 121 Broad St. (the former Bon-Ton building) and 125 Broad (Surray Luggage) and on a delivery truck, on Nov. 25, police said.
According to Lt. Stephen McCarthy, while on patrol Jan. 11, Patrolman Patrick Kennedy stopped a suspicious vehicle parked in the parking lot behind the two buildings. Information developed from that stop was followed in an investigation conducted by Investigator Joseph Fields and Sgt. Michael Clay, and led to the charges being filed.
Police are still searching for the graffiti artists who sprayed the tags "Seige" and "Dilsd" on downtown commercial properties.
Tricia Rumola, executive director of Red Bank RiverCenter, said the downtown alliance has been working with Red Bank police and code enforcement personnel to address the problem.
Under a borough ordinance passed last year, property owners are required to remove the graffiti as soon as possible and can submit bills for cleaning and painting over the graffiti to the police so that they become part of the case and are included in restitution ordered by the court.
"We’ve advised property owners when there is an incident, to call police, take a picture to document the incident and remove the graffiti," she said.
Investigations into other graffiti incidents are ongoing. Anyone with information about the identity of the graffiti artists or the significance of the tags "Seige" or "Dilsd" is urged to contact the Red Bank Police Detective Division at (732) 530-2719 or call the Red Bank Police Tips line at (732) 450-9704.