Vandals sought in paint spree

Vehicles, homes, fences and even a church are marked with spray paint in an area east of U.S. 19 in Holiday.

By COLLEEN JENKINS

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 25, 2001

HOLIDAY -- The Rev. Michael Weigand added an impromptu opening to his Sunday sermon by telling his congregation at Peace Lutheran Church, "We are blessed when we are persecuted."

A rash of vandalism between Saturday night and early Sunday had inspired Weigand's message. His church was one of about 30 properties east of U.S. 19 in Holiday targeted with spray paint.

"It was a little bit disheartening," said 27-year-old Weigand about awaking to the graffiti Sunday morning.

According to Pasco sheriff's reports, numerous vehicles, homes, fences and yard decorations were doused in red, orange, gray and black spray paint. Vandals covered Weigand's church and neighboring home on Arcadia Road with obscenities and the number "666." The number "666" also appeared in multiple places along Arcadia Road, Victoria and Tammy lanes, and a couple of nearby streets.

West of U.S. 19, "187" -- the penal code number for homicide in California -- was sprayed on a driveway on Normandy Boulevard. sheriff's spokesman Jon Powers called that an unrelated incident.

Three homes at Normandy and Brompton Drive were hit with yellow and orange paint, said Dale Chappell, 52, of 1332 Normandy Blvd. He had a yellow "187" on his driveway, and his neighbor's car was sprayed across the bumper.

Luckily, Chappell said, the unwanted art came off with a little paint remover.

"Concrete and wood you can get the paint off, but spray-painting a car is really malicious," he added.

Powers said Monday afternoon that three deputies spent their Sunday shifts trying to identify suspects, likely juveniles, around Victoria and Tammy lanes. They made 65 contacts with residents and "came up with some possible useful information," Powers said.

As for the three Holiday Lake Estates incidents, Powers said only that deputies were investigating.

On Monday afternoon, no arrests had been made, but several residents needed professional paint jobs.

"It's not especially eye-pleasing as is," Weigand said.

- Colleen Jenkins can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6232 or toll free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6232.

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