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Email Megan Email Shayla Browse & Buy: Announcements Apartments & Rentals Automotive Employment Farmer's Market Financial Legals Merchandise for Sale Real Estate for Sale Recreational Call A Pro Page 1 Call A Pro Page 2 MARKETPLACE Amador Ledger Dispatch SUBSCRIBER CENTER Contact the Ledger Dispatch Subscribe Today COMMUNITY LINKS California Highway Patrol Traffic Info Page City of Jackson Jackson Police Department City of Amador Amador County Chamber of Commerce Amador Superior Court City of Plymouth Amador County Caltrans Road Conditions HomeTown Radio City of Ione Amador County Sheriff City of Sutter Creek CLICK GALLERIES April Click Submissions Click - March 25, 2008 Click - March 18, 2008 Click - March 11, 2008 Click — February 19, 2008 Photos Courtesy of John Shepherd More Click Galleries E-mail this article to a friend | Printer friendly format Ione police crack down on vandalism with multiple arrests Wednesday, June 03, 2009 By Scott Thomas Anderson Spray paint vandalism at Ione's Howard Park Skate Park, much of which is not pictured here due to its obscene nature, was one of the charges leveled against suspects arrested in late May. Numerous pieces of public and private property have been damaged or defaced in the months leading up to the arrests. Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch The Ione Police Department is bringing down the full force of the law on suspects believed to have caused thousands of dollars in property damage - as well as an ongoing epidemic of visual blight - throughout the Ione community for months. According Sgt. Rocky Harpham, several arrests have been made, with warrants and investigations still pending on even more suspects. Two weeks ago, a 17-year-old boy found himself in handcuffs, facing charges that stem from a series of vandalism incidents that began last spring. In that time, profane and sometimes obscene graffiti was "tagged" onto businesses in the Ione Plaza, JTS billboards and the walls of Ione Elementary School. Argonaut High School in Jackson was also a target on one occasion. However, the location that experienced the most abuse and defacement was Howard Park Skate Park. Authorities now think the rash of vandalism was the work of as many as three different groups operating independently of one another. On May 31, Harpham announced that his department had arrested individuals in two of the three groups, with possible arrests to come from an investigation of the third group. Much of the investigative work that resulted in charges being filed was conducted by Ione Police Officer Pollie Pent. Harpham called his fellow officer's two-month pursuit of the vandals "relentless." He added that Pent received help and support from numerous concerned citizens including teens who didn't want to see their skate park closed down. "Unfortunately, similar types of criminal acts and vandalism have caused other communities to shut down skate parks and other types of outdoor activity centers," Harpham observed. Vandalism has been a continuing challenge for the city of Ione. Last December, Ed and Bernadette Tollett's home on West Jackson Street was severely vandalized three times in the nights leading up to Christmas Eve. Upon learning that vandalism arrests had been made by Ione Police - though not necessarily connected to the crimes back in December - Tollet was glad a message was being sent about the destructive nature of defacing property. "I think they should be given community service," Ed told the Ledger Dispatch on Monday. "I think they should be forced to go around cleaning up the town. If they can destroy it, then they can clean it up." Harpham agrees. He also feels Ione's vandalism crimes have come at a high price tag for its public and private sector. "The cost to the City of Ione to repair the skate park alone to its pre-vandalized condition has already cost thousands of dollars," Harpham said. "Additional costs have been incurred by local businesses, Amador County Unified School District and overtime investigative fees to our police department. And the cost will continue throughout the prosecution process." He added that he hoped the community would continue to assist law enforcement through providing tips and information so his department could help "keep the city clean and preserve the quality of life" residents have come to enjoy. As the Ione Police Department continues to investigate more vandalism cases, it encourages anyone with information to contact them at 274-2456. Scott Thomas Anderson COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE Vandals While community service may clean up some debris around town, perhaps these underage vandals need a few months up the road at Preston to drill some sense in to them while their parents pay the restitution. - Dave C (6/3/2009 6:26:31 PM) SEND US YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE * - Required fields Subject: * Message: * Contact Name: * Contact URL: Contact Email: * Write the text from image below to this textbox HOME | NEWS | SPORTS | LIFE | OPINION SPECIAL SECTION | SUBSCRIBER CENTER | BULLETIN | PHOTOS OUR PRIVACY POLICY Powered By: