Two Cortlandt Teens Accused of Spray-painting Bridge in Philipstown

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of two Cortlandt Manor teens on felony charges following an incident in Philipstown.

At 5:30 p.m. Aug. 11, Deputy Sheriffs Benjamin Levine and Robert Detlefs responded to a report of several men spray painting a bridge on Indian Brook Road. When they got there they saw freshly painted graffiti “tags” on the concrete bridge support structure.

The deputies canvassed the area and, in the parking lot of the Appalachian Market on Route 9, they located a vehicle that matched the description and bore the license plate number indicated by the complainant. The deputies interviewed two men in the vehicle, identified as John D. Darling, 18, of 5 Cobblestone Lane; and Kevin L. Dyckman, 17, of 277 Sprout Brook Road.

Police allege the teens admitted to having spray painted the bridge. The deputies recovered a backpack containing six cans of spray paint, the colors of which matched the colors of the graffiti, police said.

The deputies charged them with Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree, a felony; Making Graffiti, a misdemeanor; and Possession of Graffiti Instruments, a misdemeanor. The two were processed at the Putnam County Correctional Facility and held pending arraignment.

If found guilty of the felony charges, the defendants could face up to four years in a New York State Correctional Facility and a fine of up to $5,000.