Vandals leave ugly graffiti imprint

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In the past week degrading, profane graffiti has been left in several spots around the city, including in Glen Park. There, vandals spray painted children’s playground equipment, bathrooms, the east-end open shelter and even the empty swim pool.

The graffiti included crude drawings and obscenities, plus references to drugs and gangs. Police have made no arrests yet.

The large storage shed behind Lund’s Hardware was also spray painted, as were the old railroad piers off the Kinnickinnic White Pathway.

Call police at 425-0909 if you have any information on the culprits.

Other highlights from the week’s Police Beat:

--Officers detained and eventually arrested a drunk driver who allegedly went through a stop sign at Third Street and East Cascade Avenue, and then proceeded to drive onto the UW-River Falls campus and down the pedestrian lane there called the Blue Stem Pathway. The Illinois driver, who at first denied drinking, admitted he didn’t really know where he was.

--The arrest of another drunk driver who allegedly went the wrong way on Riverwalk (the downtown alley road behind Falls Theatre) and then turned into Veterans Park (where no motor vehicles are allowed). Officers say they also found a pot pipe in the man’s car.

--The arrest of a 20-year-old Spring Valley man for a probation violation and underage drinking downtown. This suspect was first spotted allegedly racing wildly in the street without his shirt. He then ran from police but was soon found hiding in a dumpster by the Holiday store on South Main Street.

--The arrest of a 20-year-old UW-RF student for disorderly conduct and property damage on campus. The student, apparently drunk, allegedly punched out a window at Hathorn Hall. He was bleeding badly from gashes to his hand and wrist, but was described as violent and uncooperative to officers and rescue workers. Finally persuaded to go to the hospital, he allegedly spat tobacco juice at the inner walls of the ambulance truck. In the end he was taken to county jail in Ellsworth.

--Investigating the beating of a 19-year-old Somerset man who was found conscious but lying on his back, bleeding from the face, at Third and Walnut streets Sunday at 1 a.m. The victim was described as drunk and fuzzy on details as to what happened. Witnesses gave conflicting accounts. One possible attacker was said to be wearing Halloween costume makeup. The man was taken by ambulance to the hospital and treated for a broken nose before leaving with his mother.

--Investigating the theft of an American flag from the front lawn of a house in the 100 block of South Third Street. The homeowner said he even had a light shining on the flag at the time it was stolen.

--Cited a 21-year-old Hudson man for public urination downtown. The suspect denied urinating to the officer but allegedly admitted he had to bystanders and said he would beat the ticket in court as he had done before. The one he has to beat this time is worth $109.

For more Police Beat, see the Nov. 5 print edition of the River Falls Journal.

Tags: phil, pfuehler, police, beat, ri er, falls