ANDERSON — Two men are expected to be summoned into court in the near future on charges they were responsible for a spate of cases of church vandalism earlier this year, according to police.
Sgt. William Casey, Anderson Police Department spokesman, said Peter L. Garrity, 24, and Justin M. Meese, 20, both of Anderson, admitted to painting “DX” and “Suck it” — slogans from professional wrestling — on Greenbriar Community Church, 1602 Woodbine Drive, on April 5. Garrity admitted to vandalizing the church again in April and May.
Brad Brizendine, Greenbriar’s pastor, said Thursday he was happy police have identified the vandals.
“Wow,” Brizendine said. “I’m sure glad to hear there’s been some discovery on this. For a while, we just thought we were going to have to deal with this for a while. I’m very grateful.”
According to a probable cause affidavit written by Officer Scott Sanderson:
Sanderson was on his way home after completing his shift when he spotted the two men looking inside vehicles and trying to open car doors at Arrow Motors, 25 Jackson St., at about 1:30 a.m.
Sanderson stopped, called for backup and began questioning the men, asking if they hung around the Greenbriar area late at night or knew who was responsible for the recent vandalism cases. Garrity seemed nervous, ultimately admitting they caused the damage.
Garrity said they got the idea to paint the wrestling slogans from television.
“Garrity said that he did the graffiti because he wanted to be on TV for doing it or be in the newspaper,” Sanderson writes in the affidavit. “He thought it would be cool and also because they were bored.”
Garrity claimed responsibility for vandalizing:
— Greenbriar on April 5 and 14, and on May 19.
— New Futures Learning Center, 2001 Ashbourne Road, on May 19.
— First Baptist Church, 907 N. Raible Ave., on May 21.
Meese admitted to taking part in the first vandalism at Greenbriar but none of the others, something corroborated by Garrity.
Neither man has been charged. In his paperwork, Sanderson asked that prosecutors charge Garrity with five counts of criminal mischief, a Class A misdemeanor. He requests that Meese be charged with a single count of criminal mischief. The charge is punishable by up to a year behind bars and a $5,000 fine if convicted.
Garrity and Meese weren’t arrested. Casey said they likely avoided being booked into jail because they cooperated with investigators.
Brizendine estimated the vandalism incidents caused $2,000 to $2,500 in damage. But Surbers Windows and Doors in Anderson donated materials and time to help fix the damage on at least two occasions.
“I think it’s commendable they would question suspicious subjects about this,” the pastor said of Sanderson’s police work. “I think it forthright and honorable that (Garrity and Meese) would admit to doing what they’ve done. The church certainly wouldn’t hold a grudge. We have no malice. We have peace and forgiveness towards these men.”
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What’s next?
Charges are expected to be filed against a pair of Anderson men accused of vandalizing Greenbriar Community Church and other buildings. Police have asked prosecutors to charge Peter L. Garrity with five counts of misdemeanor criminal mischief. They requested that Justin Meese be charged with a single criminal mischief count.
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10:13 p.m.: Police: Two ID'd in vandalism cases
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