BANGOR, Maine — One of the three local teenage boys arrested earlier this week in connection with graffiti vandalism at two York Street synagogues and several downtown locations was arrested again Thursday afternoon, this time for stealing paint markers from a hardware store, according to Bangor police.
It was the third arrest for the 17-year-old Bangor teen in three days, Bangor police Sgt. Paul Edwards said Thursday afternoon. His name was withheld because of his age.
The boy to whom Edwards was referring initially was arrested Tuesday and charged with felony aggravated criminal mischief.
He was arrested again Wednesday for allegedly tagging a stop sign. At that time, he was charged with criminal mischief, according to police.
On Thursday, the same teenager was arrested again on a misdemeanor criminal mischief charge, Edwards said.
“Today, shortly after 2 p.m., this same youth came to the attention of members of the police department’s Special Enforcement Team (SET),” Edwards said in a news release issued Thursday afternoon.
“SET officers observed the boy walk into a local hardware store and after several minutes, leave seemingly without making a purchase,” he said.
Edwards said the officers followed the boy to his residence and searched him, consistent with conditional release rules he must abide by.
“The officers found several paint markers that appeared new. [The teen] was arrested for violating his conditional release — which is not to possess paint — and after further investigation SET officers went back to the hardware store and confirmed through video surveillance that he concealed the markers and left the store without purchasing them.”
The boy was arrested on charges of misdemeanor theft and violating his conditional release order, Edwards said. He said the youth initially was taken to Penobscot County Jail and that arrangements were being made to transport him to Mountain View Youth Development in Charleston.
According to Edwards, the teenager caught with paint markers Thursday was one of three 17-year-old boys — two from Bangor and one from Orrington — arrested Tuesday for spray painting swastikas and other graffiti on two synagogues on York Street.
The two Bangor teens were charged with felony aggravated criminal mischief, while the Orrington boy was charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief/vandalism, Edwards said in a press release.
Edwards said earlier this week that the three boys were “mostly cooperative” with the detective who interviewed them and as a result, many of the department’s open cases of graffiti will be cleared.
The teens were not identified because they are juveniles. Edwards said none of them have records. Edwards did not reveal any motive for the vandalism of the synagogues. The graffiti was applied Friday night to the steps and pillars of Congregation Beth Israel and Beth Abraham Synagogue on York Street while people were inside at least one of the buildings.
The synagogue graffiti included Nazi swastikas — an anti-Semitic symbol — and an upside-down cross with the numbers “666″ — known as a sign of the devil — placed across the top.
The vandalism happened during the Jewish High Holy Days, a 10-day period of prayer that starts with Rosh Hashanah — the first day of the Jewish year and anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve — and ends with Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year.
The incident was condemned by members of the local Jewish community as well as the New England chapter of the Anti-Defamation League. Also speaking out against the swastika graffiti were the Maine Council of Churches, U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.
The case will be sent to the Maine attorney general’s office for review to see whether the offense is deemed a hate crime under state law covering the desecration and defacement of places of worship, according to Edwards.
On Thursday, Bangor city councilors said they were pleased with the recent investigation that led to the arrest of several local juveniles, including those charged with spraying swastikas on the synagogues.
“The graffiti has been the subject of recent discussions by the City Council and the arrests were the direct result of dedicated police staffing to catch the perpetrators,” Chairman Cary Weston said in a statement on behalf of the entire council.
“As a community we are deeply saddened by the attack on our Jewish neighbors and we will continue to make catching the perpetrators a high priority,” Weston said.
“The council is united on working with the criminal justice system to ensure that the youth are dealt with decisively and that the punishment includes substantial community service,” he said.
Also Thursday, the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine applauded Bangor police for their “serious and decisive investigation and arrests of the individuals allegedly responsible for spray painting swastikas on two synagogues in Bangor.”
“Whether the intention of the offensive symbols was hate-motivated or simple vandalism — the [Bangor Police Department] has made it clear that these destructive and outrageous acts will not be tolerated,” the alliance’s statement said.
Harsh as it may sound, three strikes son your out in my book.
Yep. But unfortunately the only kind of out he gets is a “get out of jail free” card. He needs the “throw away the key” card.
Maybe if he spent some time at Acadia hospital he would be cured!!
Again I await the post blaming the educational system…yep, must be those teachers…another “precious youth” falls through the cracks. If only somebody had helped him.
I also await the posts from his “friends and family” saying how rough his life has been or how he never stood a chance or he is the nicest guy ever and how dare we judge him…yep.Send him to prison now as that is certainly where his life is headed.
Seems to me that his parents failed him – he certainly has no regard for the law!
I would be very surprised if there was a positive father figure in the picture, but hey, sooner or later, you know that painting swastikas on synagogues is wrong, parenting or not.
hes considered a juvenile…fine the parents too..just a thought
He is an awful slow learner, I don’t think the educational system is at fault. I doubt he has attended school any time lately. He is going to learn the hard way, either now or later.
and rest assured, it will be somebody else’s fault.
You are correct.
It must be societies fault
I’d sooner believe it’s GW’s fault…
I think its the talking dog in the backyard of the house next door to his home telling him what to do……..
You don’t have to be stupid to do stuff like this, just nasty. The two qualities are not mutually exclusive.
This kid has no remorse. Glad he is finally put away to stop his havoc and disrespect to the community.
The young man’s actions suggest he is trying right hard to make a statement of some sort.
Does anyone disagree with that now ?
He is where if it is a hate crime can be properly determined.
It is where he should have been days ago, too.
Would anyone disagree with that, now ?
He could have been there days ago, if people had treated what he did as the hate crime it still might well prove to be, too.
Granted he should be treated as if he might be innocent.
But he sure has shown himself to mighty hateful, already, too.
Can anyone disagree with that ?
Yeah I disagree, he’s been given too many ribbons for failing, he’s been allowed too much freedom, let loose without any consequences and discipline. Getting busted 3 times in a week says his parents are not and have not been doing their job.
He’s a last winner and it started at home and it isn’t going to get any better because he’s going to get a little bitty slap on the hand, a finger shook in his face, meaningless threats of discipline and he knows it, the question is, will the adults in a court be smart enough to see that?
I think when Bangor cleans up the fallen leaves he should be made to pick the trash out of it before it’s composted, until then he can repair the mess he made. By this we’ll know he’ll be too busy to get in any trouble for awhile.
Wow! Our community is really showing this teenager who’s running the show. He obviously just does what he wants when he wants. He appears to be morally bankrupt.
He does? Looks like he got caught right quick.
And he’s costing your community tax money by marking up things like the stop signs.
he was never arrested in his short life then 3 times in 2 days,something is going on with this kid.something is not right.
Our community isn’t raising children they let them run wild. When you visit downtown Bangor you see a lot of feral children who aren’t being raised by anyone. It’s a shame that the boy never had an effective parent. Morals are taught by words and example.
Where are his parents? And, why aren’t they being parents?
I wonder if a spanking would help?
Probably would have helped 10 or so years age ………………………………….. Oh, right …………….. kids can’t be spanked or made to mind, only Time Out allowed and we wonder why there is so much trouble with some.
Oh, I know I’m opening myself for a tongue lashing from those that think kids should be coddled until they are 18 or so.
Sorry but I’m from the “OLD” school ………………………….. Then again my parents knew where I was in the middle of the night, in bed where I should have been.
No tongue lashing here! I’d give your comment multiple thumbs up if I could!
I’m with you on the Spankings. What happens when a kid does something wrong and gets spanked? They don’t do it again. What do timeouts achieve? The kid just plots what they’re gonna do next to PO their parents.
Charles Manson (by all accounts) was spanked regularly when he was a child. That really worked for him.
And I’m sure all of his crimes were caused by being spanked.
I agree completely agree, if either of my kids did anything like that, they will not make the same mistake twice. I’m old school as well, while they’re living under my roof they will live by my rules like it or not!
I totally agree with you! I wasn’t damaged from a spanking or two when I was a kid – I think it actually helped with learning respect! My grandmother always used to say that butts were made for sitting and for spanking. You don’t have to beat your child but, a spanking on the butt doesn’t hurt.
I won’t give you a tongue lashing but I will say that I never had to lay a hand on my son. I perfected “the look” and between that and the loss of privileges (car, social activities, computer, cell phone and gaming systems) kept him on the straight and narrow. Is he perfect? No! But does he have manners, respect authority and know the difference between right and wrong? Heck yes! He was an honor roll student and is now a Dean’s List college senior.
You will be pleased to know that spanking IS allowed in the State of Maine. You can not spank foster children, but feel free to spank your own. Please come back here and let us know how it works out.
Does this boy live with his parents/ If so, where are they at night and why do they not know what their son has been doing/ Perhaps the parents need some serious counseling along with their son.
It’s apparent that the kid has a paint fetish.
got a job for him paint the mural back that lepage removed. bet he could do it
He couldn’t possibly do a worse job than the paint by numbers monstrosity of a mural that the taxpayers were overcharged for.
I suppose you think that swastikas would be a fine replacement for the mural that the governor removed from the department of labor.
Well, come to think on it, they very well might be more appropriate than one would think in this State Government’s out of State corporatist controlled Labor Dept. Building.
Especially, if one considered the actual labor policies that various different Fearless Leaders, had, or have tried to implement, within the first two years of coming to power though means other than election by a true popular majority.
You brought it up.
I’m just saying.
Spoken like a true democrat. If your two candidates garner 62% of the vote, then one of them should be given the nod to be governor, presumably Cutler since of the two democrats that ran, he got the most votes. I’m sure that the first thing that will happen when the next democrat gets in office will be to re-hang the labor mural and ditch the open for business sign. Heaven forbid us to cater to business, any business but especially one that’s in it to make a profit.
Oh Please. This State has always “catered” to business just like all the others. Try getting injured at work. The employer gets a lawyer the worker doesn’t.
Remember when we changed the banking laws to attract M.B.N.A which only stayed for ten years? Gave away our 18% interest cap, our free A.T.M law. Our prohibited late fees over limit fees, and card fees. Gave it all away so that M.B.N.A. could be purchased by Bank of America which moved it’s corporate offices to North Carolina.
Now that was a real profit… too bad the people of Maine didn’t benefit from that sale.
If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth! What taxpayers were charged for that mural? Citation, please!
None of us know anything about this young man. We All know that he should be in the hands of the system until someone can find what makes the boy tick.
We know that he does not seem to learn from his mistakes. Or else he is stubborn and plans to continue his behavior until society adjusts to him.
I was surprised that the Bangor PD did not hold him when he committed the second crime. Obviously the parents have no control over this young man and more than likely have not for some period of time as he seemed to be out at night “painting” the town for some good part of the summer.
oh c’mon,, treat him like an adult and get it over with..
As long as the law treats this guy like he has a free pass to go about life as usual, he’s not going to stop. I wonder if he achieved some kind of record with his 3 arrests in 3 days? Maybe he’s going for the record?
We should coddle an nurture him back to society…. Where is Super Petey to save this guy?
I have raised 4 children, none of them perfect, but I can assure you that if one of mine had committed such an act, it wouldn’t have happened twice.
This guy must be one of those that only learn the hard way. Three strikes and you are out. Or in this case, IN.
They will coddle him there too. And, you can make up your mind he will do whatever he wants there too. A Wii, movies every weekend, no need to do anything at all. I am sure the walls could use a fresh coat of paint as well.
he can paint murals on railroad cars
This kid is really stupid.
Maybe its time to not let him out when he gets arrested, or maybe we arrest mommy and daddy who clearly can’t control him. He is out in the city at 3am and he is released the next day????? Put him prison and see how he likes having to follow the rules.
Prison?? He was not violent (same reasoning as druggies not being in prison). Maybe bringing back public humiliation back would work. Stocks anyone?
The ACLU would chastise you for such a recommendation…….
These kids don’t care and they need some tough love. Send them all to Charleston after they clean up the graffiti with their parents.
We’el probably never know for sure(because they’ll go to juvenile court) whether there’s only one parent or two.
Yep. No government service,decent jobs, or responsible possibilities on the horizon for this youngster. May as well go paint somebodys property.
Anyone take note that the “grafitti” depicted in the above photo is NOT a swasttika or an inverted cross?
Gang tags…….Oh, how forgetfull of me, there are no gangs in Bangor.
I wondered where the swastikas were too. Especially since that was the main point of the tale.
This kid is angry, and wants to prove he can do this without getting caught. sad really. no hope, no dreams.
Hit him with the hate crime laws. The behavior is disgusting.
Not sure it would stick, the idiots made the swastikas backwards. so its not a swastika
Can we put the parents, or parent in Charleston for a while? Maybe that might wake them up
to the fact that junior has a problem with authority.
Charleston is where under-aged felons go to mix, mingle, and share trade secrets while taking part in a re-enactment of the Stanford Prison Experiment.
Mom and Dad probably have authority issues too.
Poor misunderstood youth.
His parents clearly have no control over him. Put him in a locked, group home.
Atleast he isnt being released to his parents this time. they obviously have no control over him.
This poor boy obviously needs help. Send him to the slammer.
I’d like to see this kid get sentenced to caning, not unlike Michael P. Fay, the American teen who was charged with vandalism and theft in Singapore, 1994.
This is a terrible thing !!! Those boys should have to watch some TV from the past so they can see what horrid and cruel things were done to adults and children !!! None was spared !!! They were EVIL MONSTERS that could do such horrible things to people and there dear little children !!! I bet they don’t even really know what the SWATH sign really means and how hurtful it can be to people that do remember and care !!!!
i didnt see any swastikas
All I saw was a rather unimpressive ‘twig & berries’. haha
My father gave a description of Dachau for memoirs that must have kept his up nights for years. His unit was with the 3rd Army during the last part of the war. It saddened him greatly that people were starting to forget just how horrible things were in those camps.
wondering what his parents are thinking and doing about this?
so let me get this straight..he defaces public property, he stirs up deep feelings of hatred and causes tax payers money and the jewish community anguish and grief and money….but they cannot release his name….bleeding heart liberals
make an example out of him and make him do supervised community service when it comes to cleaning up after his display of ………… what ever you want to call it. Make him wear a sign that says he is the one who defaced other peoples property. Having a positive father figure has nothing to do with it, he needed a swift kick in the behind all the way to the cop shop by someone in his life a lot sooner than now…..I know my daughter wants to run to the cop shop if I ever caught her doing something to someone else’s property cause one way or the other she would pay dearly.
Glad to see Mike Michaud and Susan Collins haven’t forgotten the Jewish vote ! How come they don’t speak out on most other crimes ?
Wonder what those commenters in this week’s previous stories about this puke, and I’m referring to those who posted he should NOT be treated as an adult, because 17 year olds are not able to fully comprehend their actions, are saying now. Super-glue this punk’s eyelids together, so he can’t view the fruits of his “labors”.
I’m still saying the same thing. Teenagers, with time on their hands and mischief on their minds, need to be introduced to some hard work.
If this boy was living here he’d be chopping (by hand) the 8 cords of wood in my front yard.
…and please don’t tell me that the State wouldn’t allow this type of discipline. They do, I know it has been tested.
Normally, Mark, I’d be inclined to agree with you. But this kid appears to be quite far gone, if 3 spray paint-related arrests in three days are an indicator. And frankly, I think your remedy would be “axin'” for more trouble.
Young people make LOTS of mistakes. It is the reason why we treat them differently than adults. I know none of the folks on this board (except me) ever got arrested for stupid non-profitable actions, but I remember that a friend of the family bailed me out for a drunk and disorderly charge, and later that night I stole his car and got arrested again in downtown Lewiston (yeah it was a girl thing)
I’m not saying the boy should get off scot free, but I am saying we shouldn’t chalk him off until after the fat lady does her thing.
Axing for trouble? That’s good.
For the sake of all involved, especially the 17 year old, I sincerely hope you’re right. Thanks for your insight.
id-10-t
Show the kids face to all…Let everyone know who to be watching for…He may not get jail time but he will be looking over his shoulder to see who is watching…It’s to bad that some can’t figure it out but that is life…
Warren can throw him an 18th birthday party next year.Sounds like he is destined for prison.
I’d say this young man needs some time out in “big boy” jail.
When kids like this who get caught painting graffiti, the state should set something up for them to go around and paint buildings or paint murals for schools or businesses. Most of them have quite a talent and should be able to do some good with it.
at some point he will break into the wrong home and no arrests or jail time will be needed
This kid has got something drastically wrong with him. It sounds like he’d be a good candidate for “scared straight” because he’s headed for big, big trouble. What a shame that he can’t see he’s potentially screwing up his whole life with these youthful “pranks”, which are, in fact, crimes.
Good work by BangorPD.
Stay in school and pay attention! This is no way to start out in life.
I’d say this young man needs some time out in “big boy” jail.
The police have done an excellent job. Unfortunately, our archaic legal system is out of step with them. All should have been held for a hearing. Instead they were released without any consideration for those they have attacked.
It is unfortunate that this happens to teenagers .In my opinion our children are a product of their Environment .In my own experience i raised a son and have seen this all his life growing up(and mine). Fortunately i spent time with him asked questions and explained (best of my knowledge) to him what i thought was right.It may not have been the best way or the right way , but it was my way.Now he is 20 and has up most respect for his his elders and is getting a great education .I know some kids have no parents and are brought up in rough environments and people do not know until they are put in that situation.I could not fathom having to go through that.I guess what i am trying to say is before you judge a teenager look at yourself and see how you raised your kid then try and judge someone elses.We are desensitizing our kids.We can not reprimand them the way we want or the way our parents raised us .Everything has to be done “the systems way”. Then they ask what is wrong with our kids. You tell me.
Don’t give this ignorant little hate monger a break. Throw the book(adult) at him.
correction, Throw
Show his face…Let us see him so we can keep an eye on him…Three times!!!17 know’s right from wrong…If we continue as a society to treat these young adults as children things won’t change or even get better…
This is a young man screaming for help! Hopefully, at Charleston he will at least have the opportunity to counseling and, hopefully, it isn’t too late for him to turn his life around. This incident brings to mind two young men I’ve known who were involved in similar activities in their teens. One was an amazing pianist who was disallowed the opportunity by the school to pursue this because of his behavioral problems. The second was a budding painting artist whose caretaker thought art was a foolish endeavor. The first, who was always polite to me, bludgeoned a man to death in a store robbery; the second killed a women with a kitchen knife. I can’t help but wonder if these two people, had they been given the opportunity to pursue something that satisfied their ‘soul’, may have had very different lives. I’m not excusing this kid for what he’s done, but there’s a reason for a young person to blatantly disobey cultural laws; it’s an attention getting device. Perhaps a counselor can help him find out what is needed to change the current path.