Brick Man Charged In Graffiti Spree At Drum Point Complex

A Brick Township man charged with criminal mischief has been accused of going on a graffiti spree at the Drum Point Sports Complex this week, Brick police said.

David Rivera Jr., 27, of Drum Point Road, who was arrested Tuesday morning, could face additional charges after the case is reviewed by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Brick Capt. Ronald Dougard said.

Dougard said a man was spotted on Monday spraypainting traffic light poles in the area of Drum Point Road by Lavallette Class II Special Officer Joe Bench, who happened to be passing by. Bench called Brick police and gave a description of the man, but police were unable to locate the suspect that day, Dougard said.

On Tuesday, police were called to the sports complex for a report of numerous instances of graffiti and criminal mischief, Dougard said, with dugouts, traffic signals, street signs and other property defaced by what appeared to be orange marker ink.

“All of the items that were defaced had a similar tag, which was ‘King 718,’ “ Dougard said.

At about 11:30 a.m., Detective George Waldhelm of the Brick Township Police Criminal Identification Unit observed a person matching the description Bench had provided the day before, Dougard said. The man was walking in the area of Drum Point Road and Brick Boulevard. Detectives Kenneth Steinberg and Greg Mullarkey of the Brick Township Police Investigations Division responded and were able to positively identify the subject as the person who had left the graffiti and arrested him, he said.

In addition, the marker that is believed to have been used was also seized, Dougard said.

Rivera was taken to Brick Police Headquarters where he was processed and released, he said.

The investigation is continuing and anyone who believes that they may have observed additional areas that were damaged is asked to contact Detective Kenneth Steinberg at 732-262-1113. They can also contact the Brick Township Police directly at 732-262-1100.