After three months of trying, police have arrested an 18-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy who officers believe spray-painted graffiti at 22 locations since early November.
Before their arrest Monday, the two are believed to have repeatedly tagged the scoreboard and baseball dugouts at Fife High School, the city pool, Chamber of Commerce and various businesses.
“It cost thousands of dollars in damage at least,” police Lt. Tom Thompson said.
The case was forwarded to the City Attorney’s Office, which has charged the man with 21 counts of third-degree malicious mischief. Another charge is expected after a business owner came forward this week to report his warehouse had also been tagged.
The 14-year-old boy is being held at the Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center in Tacoma.
Because the taggers kept hitting the same places, police scanned surveillance footage at some of the properties and found pictures of one of the taggers on a distinctive bicycle.
Officers spotted the bicycle outside a junior high school and traced it to one of the students, who allegedly admitted his involvement. The investigation led police to another 14-year-old boy and the 18-year-old man.
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