The Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS — Two Byron Center teens were charged with tagging downtown businesses and streets after an off-duty sergeant heard the vandals at work.

It was just before 5:30 a.m. Jan. 15, and Sgt. Elliott Bargas was walking, a block from the police station, when the sound of a car alarm and odd squeaking caught his attention.

The squeaking was the sound of purple and black magic markers on an electrical box at the corner of Louis Street and Ionia Avenue SW.

The sergeant gave chase for two blocks and called for more officers, who nabbed the teens.

Once he got to work, the curious Bargas headed south toward the initial sound of the car alarm and saw extensive graffiti on 15 buildings and marks on the United Way sign downtown.

Two 17-year-olds were arraigned before Chief District Judge Ben Logan, charged with malicious destruction of property.

“It was tagging, not a gang-type graffiti,” the sergeant said.

As police brought the teens to jail, an arresting officer told the kids they shouldn’t have done it one block from the police department and in front of an off-duty officer.

“We didn’t know he was a cop, otherwise we wouldn’t have done it,” one said, according to the police report.