Brockton police arrest Wash. man in connection with Brockton District Court vandalism

The Enterprise of Brockton, Mass., www.enterprisenews.com
By Maureen Boyle
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
Posted Dec 10, 2009 @ 09:40 AM
BROCKTON — A Tacoma, Wash., man was arrested early Thursday after police said he sprayed-painted graffiti on the Brockton District Court building on Main Street, telling officers it was a protest after a judge denied him visitation with his children.
Police said Andrew Steele, 45, of Tacoma, Wash., was arrested and charged with tagging and destruction over $250 and malicious damage.
Police said Steele spray-painted the words Steele Boys Rights Denide (sic) multiple times on the building at 215 Main St. The phrase was repeated across the rear and front of the courthouse in large letters and across the windows and doors.
Lt. John Crowley, chief of detectives, said officer Daniel MacIntosh was flagged down at 1:42 a.m. Thursday by a person who said someone was spray-painting the courthouse
At the courthouse, the officer saw a man in a brown jacket with a can of red spray-paint in his hands. Crowley said the suspect told the officer he painted the courthouse as a protest. Steele told police he painted the message because he wanted his children to visit him in Washington but a probate court judge had denied that request.
Steele was arraigned at the courthouse this morning and ordered held in lieu of $50,000 cash bail or $500,000 surety. He is due back in court on Jan. 6.
The estimate to repair the damage is estimated at $2,800.
The suspect was arrested by MacIntosh and Sgt. Frank Vardaro.

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[stopcrohnsdisease]

great coverage on the story.