ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 11, 1996 TAG: 9602120049
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER
The hands that paint graffiti are often difficult to cuff, but police may have done just that Thursday with the arrest of three Roanoke men.
Roanoke police charged Jason P. Atkins, 21, Michael M. Zimmerman, 19, and William R. Firebaugh, 18, with five counts of property damage each after catching the men soon after graffiti were painted on the Wen-Don Chemical Building on Fourth Street, according to a news release.
The men were charged for damage to two Norfolk Southern Railroad cars; Paper Alley, a gift shop on Market Street; Mostly Sofas, a furniture store on East Elm Avenue; a van owned by a business; and another building in the 900 block of Fourth Street Southeast.
Police arrested the men after a complaint was made about 2 a.m. Thursday. The caller said three men were seen painting graffiti on Scribner's at 907 Fourth St.
Evidence at the scene and a witness led police on a search of the area and to the men's arrest.
Gale Sowers, co-owner of Paper Alley, said the graffiti were so bad on her building that she had it repainted in September.
But the fresh coat of Burgundy paint must have looked inviting to vandals. Beginning after Christmas, Sowers said, more graffiti were painted on her building. The problem has been going on for more than a year, she said.
The graffiti have distinct designs. One appears to be initials linked together, another is a face with a lighted cigar hanging out of its mouth. The designs are on buildings throughout the City Market area as well as on signs, in parking lots, alleys and even roofs.
Sowers said she did not want to comment about the recent arrests, except to say police have done superior work on the case.
Police said they do not think the graffiti in this case are related to any organized group.
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