Two Arrested in Point Beach Spray-Painting Caper

A Point Beach man and a Point Borough man, both 18 years old, have been arrested for allegedly stealing spray paint and using it to scrawl vile messages in part of Point Beach on July 2.

Daniel Williams, Point Beach, and Matthew Marsh, Point Borough, were charged with one count each of burglary, theft and criminal mischief, with additional counts of criminal mischief charges to be filed, said Detective Patrick Petruzziello on Monday morning.

Petruzziello and Detective Clint Daniel, as part of their investigation, interviewed Marsh at his home at about 4 p.m. Thurs. and arrested him.

The investigation continued, Petruzziello said, leading he and Daniel to arrest Williams on Ocean Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. that same day.

The two were released on their own recognizance.

They are accused of making forced entry into at least three shreds and a detached garage, stealing bicycles and cans of spray paint and then spray-painting 13 houses, cars and sidewalks, Petruzziello said.

"The burglary and thefts occurred in the area of Seymour Avenue and the bulk of criminal mischief incidents occurred in the area of Woodland Avenue," Petruzziello said. "However, they were not limited to those streets.

Following the thefts, "the suspects then proceeded west through town, spray painting vehicles, houses and sidewalks," Petruzziello had said in a prepared statement released shortly after the July 2 incident.

"The number of criminal mischief incidents that were reported was 13 and the damage was estimated to be in the thousands," the statement said.

An estimated time for the burglaries and spray-painting incidents is between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. July 2, in the middle of what had been an extremely hectic weekend for police.

"The actor(s) spray painted obscene and harassing phrases and illustrations," the statement said. "There was physical evidence collected from the scene. However, police are not disclosing what type of evidence was developed."