Teen charged with graffiti offenses

POUGHKEEPSIE – A 15-year-old boy has been arrested by Town of Poughkeepsie Police after they caught him red handed for making graffiti on commercial buildings in the Arlington area of the town.

Police responded to a call that a resident had witnessed two youths making graffiti. When police arrived, they detained one youth while the other fled.

Recovered at the scene were seven cans of spray paint, paint rollers, a five gallon bucket of paint and a book of graffiti sketches, some of which matched graffiti on the walls of buildings.

The teen was charged with possession of graffiti instruments, making graffiti and criminal mischief in the fourth degree, all misdemeanors.

He was issued an appearance ticket to appear in Dutchess County Family Court and was released to a parent.

The investigation is continuing and more arrests and criminal charges are pending, police said.