Orono Squads Vandalized With Carp, Spray Paint
ORONO, Minn. (WCCO) -- Police are looking for the person who damaged three police vehicles overnight using, among other things, dead carp. The cars were outside, in the parking lot, when someone spray painted and busted a window around 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning.
You may think the safest place in any town is the local police station, but in Orono, the police parking lot is the scene of the city's latest crime.
Back from the body shop, two vehicles no longer show the four letter word left by vandals. But a third vehicle still needs work. The damage to a new police cruiser is a little more extensive.
"It is a pain, because we don't have a lot of cars," said Sgt. Tony Wittke, of the Orono Police Department.
Overnight surveillance video shows man carrying four large carp towards the parked police cars. He throws the 30-40 pound fish at the vehicles. Most hit the cars and slide to the ground, but one of the fish busted the rear windshield.
"The one that went through the window, that one was stinky inside," said Sgt. Wittke.
Luckily, officers discovered the vandalism fairly quickly.
"Hopefully, everything will be good so the officers won't be disappointed in driving it. It only had 200 miles on it," said Sgt. Wittke.
The evidence left behind does little in the way of any clues. Orono is located in an area that has no shortage of carp.
"We don't know where it came from, I know (Lake) Minnetonka has quite a few of them. They weren't decayed or anything yet, they were still fresh," he said.
Police are working to enhance that surveillance video to get a better look at the guy. They think the vandal is a young white man who was wearing a blue coat.
They are offering an award for information leading to a conviction. The damage did cost the department about $2,500.
If you know anything about the case, you are asked to call (952) 249-4700.
