An 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old juvenile male were arrested Tuesday and admitted to a vandalism spree that marred the west side of Carson City on Sunday.
Levi Anthony Minor was jailed Tuesday night at around 6 p.m., after admitting to the crimes. He faces one felony count of destruction of property of $5,000 or more and 10 gross misdemeanor charges related to property damage. Bail has been set at $25,000. Carson City First Methodist Church, Carson Middle School, several vehicles and homes were damaged after BBs were shot and rocks thrown. Property damage from the spree, which happened at about a dozen locations, is estimated at well over $10,000, authorities say.
The 16-year-old male accomplice also admitted to the spree. The pair said they did it because they were angry that not enough money was being spent at the skate park, according to the Carson City Sheriff's Office arrest report. A third teenager is being sought by the sheriff's department.
Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said he was extremely pleased with the arrests, saying in part that the vandalism spree caused a whirlwind of activity within the department to get the case solved.
"I couldn't be more happy. This is iconic law enforcement at its best," said Furlong following a staff meeting with patrol officers where he said he graciously thanked them for their hard work in solving the case. "Everyone in our department honed in on this. The office was sharing leads, passing information onto the next (shifts) everyone was involved in this. Our officers took a stand. It was a catalyst."
"This event stands more for what is going on inside the four walls of this department than anything else. Even for a low level crime such as vandalism, there is no one in our office or in the community who will tolerate something like this," Furlong said.
He noted the community came forward with information and even provided surveillance footage. All the evidence submitted was strong, Furlong said, adding to the arrest and ultimately, what he believes, will result in convictions.
"This is a rock solid case with the testimonials and evidence. I think the DAs office has all they need to prosecute these individuals," the sheriff said.
The investigation into the vandalism that led to the arrests began after authorities received a phone call from an anonymous person who had information regarding the investigation.
Officers made contact with the woman who advised she had found two BB guns in her son's backpack shortly after reading about the vandalism, the arrest report states.
The woman advised her son was at a friend's house in the 1000 block of Patton Street. At around 5 p.m. Carson City Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the address and met with a 14-year-old. The teen's adult sister gave officers consent to enter the residence and upon entry officers noticed a beanie laying on the floor matching the description of one seen on surveillance video taken Sunday of three subjects near the Governor's Mansion.
The teen asked officers if he could contacted his mother and advised her to come home, according to the arrest report. The woman arrived and gave investigators consent to speak with her son. Officer spoke then with a juvenile regarding the property destruction that involved BB guns. The juvenile told officers he was holding two BB guns for his older brother and that he got them from Levi Minor, the arrest report states.
The teen advised he knew of the vandalism in his neighborhood and suspected Minor and others, advising officers that he was not involved. The mother confirmed that her teen juvenile son had possession of 2 BB guns, possibly located inside the home. Per the officer's request the minor got the guns from his brother's room. Officers confiscated the BB guns, BBs, and the beanie for evidence.
The mother advised where her 16-year-old son was and gave officer consent to speak to the juvenile about the crimes committed. Officers responded to the 1000 block of Marian Street. On arrival, officers rang the front doorbell while Sgt. Earl Mays and another officer observed the back of the house.
Minor attempted to flee from the home and began to climb the backyard fence, according to the arrest report. Officers yelled at Minor to stop and return to the residence. An adult male answered the front door and gave officers consent to enter the residence. Officers then met with Minor and the 16-year-old juvenile.
The two were separated and interviewed regarding the vandalism. While exiting the room Sgt. Mays asked the 16-year-old if he knew why deputies were there. The teen replied "because of the vandalism."
Minor admitted to shooting out the windows and vandalizing property at Carson Middle School and residential homes around the school early Sunday morning. He advised that he and the 16-year-old had committed the vandalism because the city was wasting money on the schools and decorations of the freeway instead of expanding the skate park, according to the report.
The 18-year-old advised he had a petition signed by several people to expand the skate park but that the petition was ignored. Officers observed Minor was very passionate about his reason for shooting out car windows and throwing rocks at school windows. He estimated that he broke out 10 windows in the areas of Musser, King, Crain, Tacoma, Minnesota, Robinson and Caroline streets.
Officers interviewed the 16-year-old who admitted to shooting out approximately five car windows using the BB guns and threw rocks at Carson Middle School windows at around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
The 16-year-old admitted that he, Minor and another person committed the vandalism because the "city was wasting money on things other than the skate park and things for kids," the arrest report states.
Minor was transported to Carson City Jail and booked on 10 gross misdemeanor counts of property destruction and one count of felony destruction of property. The felony charge was due to the high dollar amount of damage committed at Carson Middle school, estimated to be $5,500.
The 16-year-old was transported to Carson City Juvenile Detention Center where he was booked on 9 counts of destruction of property and one count of felony destruction of property for the high dollar amount caused at Carson Middle School.