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As business owners work to clean up racially charged graffiti discovered spray-painted across Monroe, three men each face nearly 30 property damage charges in connection with the vandalism.
Monroe police said the vandalism included swastikas and references to white supremacy and "white power" painted on several vehicles and businesses late Thursday and early Friday, causing thousands of dollars in damage. A Monroe police cruiser also was defaced by the vandals.
On Friday, police released surveillance images taken at the Walmart on West Roosevelt Boulevard (U.S. 74) showing three tattooed men buying spray paint just before 2 a.m. Friday. Police said the paint colors they purchased were the same colors used in graffiti soon found across the city.
Using tips provided by the public and information gathered in their investigation, Monroe police had charged the trio of suspects by Saturday morning. Police arrested Nicholas Sutta, 32, and Jamie Lee Houchins, 33, and issued warrants for the arrest of Shawn Donald Pruitt, 37. All are from Monroe.
Police said each man is charged with about 27 counts of injury to real property and injury to personal property.
Sutta and Houchins were jailed with bail set at $10,000. Sutta was released from Union County jail after posting bond, but Houchins remained in custody Saturday afternoon.
