Teens facing graffiti charges

From staff reports

Published: June 11, 2009

Three 17-year-olds face charges of damaging property in the downtown area by spraying graffiti.

Josh Lee Stull and Isaac Drew Ervin, both of Statesville, and Judah Johnson of Stony Point, were each charged, Statesville Police Chief Tom Anderson said.

Charges of damage to property, aiding and abetting damage to property and possession of graffiti implements were filed, Anderson said.

During the weekend, Anderson said, several incidents of graffiti were reported throughout the downtown area.

He said buildings on East Broad and North Center street and several city-owned trash cans were spray-painted with graffiti.

Anderson said the arrests came after police retrieved surveillance video from businesses in the area.

After getting images from the surveillance video, Anderson said, investigators worked with school resource officers in various schools in an attempt to identify the three suspects.

As a result, he said, police were able to identify the three teens, and they were charged.

Anderson said police are still investigating other recent graffiti incidents.