Gloved Spray-Painters Arrested After Police Find Their Work Still Drying

Athens-Clarke police briefs, Aug. 12

ARREST

Around 11:30 p.m. August 11 an officer on patrol saw two males coming out of a dark, wooded area off Macon Highway near the overpass for the Timothy Road Loop 10 entrance ramp. They were dressed in all black and wearing gloves. The officer made contact with them and they said they were walking through the woods. One was carrying a backpack which was found to contain cans of spray paint. When asked why he had the paint, the male said they are artists and were in the woods looking for large pieces of wood to paint. Their explanation as to why they were there did not dispel the officer’s suspicions of possible criminal activity. Another officer arrived and a search of the area revealed fresh spray paint on two concrete pylons. Based on the evidence, the males were arrested. Allen Lilly, 29, Barnett Shoals Road, and Clark Collins, 19, Wild Barley Way, Loganville, were charged with Criminal Trespass Damaged Property and Loitering/Prowling.

BATTERY

Officers responded to a possible fight on Oak Hill Drive around 7:30 p.m. August 11. The 16-year old victim said he was outside with some males from the neighborhood. They had a disagreement and one of the males came at him as if he wanted to fight. He said he took a swing at the male and he pulled an unknown object from his pocket and hit him. The victim sustained a cut above his eye. He said he went in his residence to get a knife but officers arrived before the incident escalated. He went to Athens Regional Medical Center for treatment. A suspect was identified.

BURGLARY

A storage building at an Airport Drive residence was burglarized between 10 p.m. August 10 and 7:50 a.m. August 11. A weed eater, chain saw, and tires with a total value of $500 were stolen.

A weed eater and leaf blower valued at $600 were stolen from a garage at an Old Jefferson Road residence. The theft occurred sometime prior to 12:30 p.m. August 11.

Between 7:30 a.m. and 4:05 p.m. August 11 an Old Lexington Road residence was burglarized. A rifle and laptops with a total value of $1,800 were stolen.

A River Chase Drive residence was burglarized between 8:30 a.m. and 5:40 p.m. August 11. Cash, a video game system, iPad, speaker, blue ray player, TV, and backpack were stolen. The total value was $2,930.

An east side residence was burglarized between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. August 11. TVs, a Kindle with case, and jewelry with a total value of $5,585 were stolen.