Alleged BB gun vandals arrested

MAT-SU — Alaska State Troopers have arrested two 16-year-old boys who, they say, used high-powered BB guns on a vandalism spree last week that damaged property and caused thousands of dollars' worth of damage.

One of the teen-agers was arrested Thursday on an unrelated domestic- violence charge when he allegedly assaulted his wife in their home, Trooper Sgt. Tim Bleicher said Friday. The boy was subsequently charged with second-degree criminal mischief — a felony — for the vandalism.

On Friday, the second 16-year-old was taken into custody, troopers said. Both boys are being held at Mat-Su Youth Facility in Palmer.

Bleicher said one of the youths acknowledged his participation in at least 30 of the acts of vandalism. Troopers discovered two high-powered BB gun pistols they believe were used in the jag of destruction.

Pending the conclusion of the investigation, troopers say they expect to file additional felony charges against the boys.

Troopers said both teens are from the Palmer-Butte area.

The crime spree came to the attention of authorities after they received at least 48 reports Thursday morning of shot-out vehicle windows and damage to homes and businesses that apparently occurred overnight.

Law enforcement authorities continued to receive reports of damage on Friday and were still trying to calculate the monetary value of the damage.

Acting Palmer Police Chief George Boatright said his department received 17 reports of vandalism. The city of Wasilla was hit particularly hard, with 23 reports, according to Wasilla Police Chief Charlie Fannon.

The brunt of the BB gun damage occurred in the Indian Hills subdivision near Wasilla-Fishhook Road, Fannon said.

Troopers also continued to file vandalism cases, with the most recent count being 15 cases as of Friday, Bleicher said.

Originally, troopers estimated the total damage caused in the one-night spree of vandalism at around $25,000. However, the law enforcement heads all said they expected the final total to exceed that amount.

Local insurance agencies were inundated with calls from customers filing claims for the damage to their properties. One of the agencies was also a target in the BB gun shootings.

Multiple BB holes peppered several windows at the Stan Tebow Allstate on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Insurance agent Christine Egbert, who works at the targeted business, said her office has received scores of phone calls from customers with damaged property — from Mile 8 Knik-Goose Bay Road to Sutton.

One man, Egbert said, received an $8,000 estimate to replace blown-out windows in two sport-utility vehicles.

While Alaska law protects the identity of juvenile offenders in criminal matters, it does provide for their identity to be revealed if the victims wish to pursue restitution for damages in civil court, Bleicher said.

As for a motive, Bleicher would only comment that no explanation was offered by the two 16-year-old suspects.