Local News

Graffiti Vandals Arrested

Press Release

Apr 26, 2019

Graffiti artists were on the loose in downtown Omak the past couple days but with the help of alert library security and a video posted on Instagram, Omak police arrested three prankster painters. Chief Jeff Koplin said he walked the downtown corridor of Ash Street, Main Street, Central Avenue to Juniper and Birch Street and was able to view the painted areas.

Koplin said the security guard at the library was able to describe a man who he had seen in the area of the park and library with a paint can and when Ira Frank, 24, Okanogan, returned to the library Thursday police were called and Frank was cooperative and reported the areas he had spray-painted.

Then Sgt. Darren Duncan joined the investigation when he was summoned to the Omak school area to locate a juvenile runway. It’s then that Sgt. Duncan arrested two juveniles, age 12 and 13, but not without the help of one of the boy’s mother. She had been looking for her son who she had listed as a runaway. The investigation was sealed when the two boys bragged about the bridge tagging when it appeared on Instagram.

Koplin said these three were stopped before major damage occurred. He said he can only urge citizens to cooperate in reporting any incidents of graffiti, vandalism or malicious mischief and the name(s) of the person(s) believed to be responsible.

Koplin said he was proud of the security guard and mother who helped and made her son accept responsibility.

Spot graffiti? Call the police. 826-0383.