Age of destruction
Vandals mar downtown-area businesses
ABOVE: Ray Morris sprays a chemical on a patch of graffiti that was tagged this weekend on the side of Camille's Sidewalk Cafe. The vandals also tagged both the Public Library and the Children's Library. BELOW: Elliot Tsosie uses a pressure washer to remove graffiti from the side of Camille's Sidewalk Cafe on Monday. The vandals also tagged both the Public Library and the Children's Library. — © 2008 Gallup Independent / Brian Leddy

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Phil Stake
Staff writer

GALLUP — Another rash of destructive graffiti this weekend struck several local businesses.

“Usually they do it in the alleyway where it isn’t so obvious,” said Octavia Fellin Public Library Assistant Director Betty Martin. “This time it was right out front, and bigger ... just scribbles. I couldn’t even tell what it said.”

Police suspect the nighttime prowler who marred the north wall of the library also left a string of scribbled tags along the east wall of Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe at 306 S. Second St., as well as the Children’s Library across the street, and completely defaced a Perry Null billboard a few hundred feet west near the intersection of Third Street and Aztec Avenue.

Camille’s Manager Kate Hill complimented the city’s quick response in power-washing the tags off the face of the building, but said she will probably still have to paint in order to completely cover the damage. Octavia Fellin Public Library already has paint on hand, which it frequently uses to cover graffiti, according to Martin.

The latest rash of graffiti vandalism, which police believe happened Sunday night, comes on the heels of another outbreak on Sept. 22, which ended with the arrest of 14-year-old Preston John.

John’s admitted list of six residential and commercial sites tagged with blue spray paint include an estimated $27,000 worth of damage to a wall near a residence on the 500 block of Country Club Drive. The major cost stems from the homeowner’s inability to match the paint. Where the wall is not covered by graffiti, the paint is already faded to shades that are impossible to match, which the homeowner states will require all new stucco and paint.
Inside about an hour’s time, John defaced six buildings including Gallup Middle School.

Gallup Police Chief Robert Cron responded to the graffiti call placed by a neighbor on Sept. 22, and he later arrested and booked John at McKinley County Juvenile Detention Center.

Police are looking for any information regarding this most recent commission of graffiti, which vandalized both libraries, Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe and the Perry Null billboard.

Crimestoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to arrest; to contact Crimestoppers in Gallup, call (505) 722-6161