WILLMAR -- Four boys were taken into custody by the Willmar Police Department Tuesday night after being caught spray painting gang-related graffiti in an alley downtown.
The Police Department was called around 8:47 p.m. by a resident along the 300 block of Becker Avenue Southwest, reporting the spray painting in progress. Officers responded to the scene shortly after and arrested the two 14-year-olds, a 13-year-old and a 10-year-old, all from Willmar, after a short foot pursuit.
The four boys were allegedly using blue spray paint to spray gang-related terms such as "SS13" on the alley wall behind the Barn Theatre. Tuesday's graffiti incident is similar to a graffiti incident Oct. 23 where a number of downtown building owners reported damage from graffiti vandals.
In the Oct. 23 incidents, blue spray paint was used to write "BP," "SS13" and "Brown Pride" on the walls of the old Erickson's building, the Barn Theatre and Engan Associates building. Blue spray paint was also used in graffiti found under the First Street bridge and on the back door of Home Accents Oct. 23.
Police Officer Marilee Dorn said the terms and words used in the graffiti have to do with the Latino pride movement and some California-based gangs.
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The three teenagers involved in Tuesday's graffiti vandalism are facing charges of criminal damage to property, liability for crimes of another and fleeing a police officer on foot. Dorn said the 10-year-old is too young to face criminal charges.
