Authorities are seeking the public’s help in identifying a group of suspects they believe is responsible for about 30 incidents of criminal mischief this fall.
Since Sept. 12, police said, officers have responded to at least 26 cases of criminal mischief, three battery incidents and a case involving shooting a deadly missile, and all may be related.
Police believe the suspects were driving around the city in trucks and shooting glass marbles, paint balls and other items at windows. In three cases, paint balls were shot at people, bruising some of the victims.
Elizabeth Watts, the city’s public safety spokeswoman, said the group targeted mostly businesses, including car dealerships, fast food restaurants, grocery stores and even the county courthouse.
In the most recent attacks, the group pelted windows at a beauty salon, a cell phone store, a tattoo shop and many others Saturday through Tuesday morning.
Police believe the suspects were using the following vehicles in the incident: a dark truck with a metal upright rack on the tailgate, a white truck, and a gold four-door pickup with tinted windows and a railing on each side.
Authorities believe the driver of the gold truck is a heavy white male, approximately 26 years old who is 5 feet 10 inches tall. They believe he weighs about 250 pounds and has short black hair and a full beard.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at (727) 562-4080 (press 2). People also can text 847411, or submit information at clearwaterpolice.org or the department’s Facebook page.
St. Petersburg Times
