INFORMATION RELEASE

On 02/12/2011, at approximately 9:20 pm, a resident in the West Juneau area reported to the Juneau Police Department that they could see two males spray-painting a residence located along Sitka Street. As JPD Officers arrived to the scene, one of the two males fled on foot. The other male was immediately placed into custody. One of the arriving JPD Officers pursued the second male on foot. The second male was eventually stopped and placed into custody approximately one (1) block away.

Officers identified the males as Ernesto GUILLEN, 19-years of age and the second as a 17-year old. Both local residents.

Through interviews and evidence gathered at the scene, Officers determined that both males had spray-painted various words on at least three garage doors of a condominimum complex and also to a concrete retaining wall along Nowell Avenue. Prior to police contact, GUILLEN had allegedly hid a backpack containing several cans of spray paint. The pack and cans were recovered and later placed into evidence.

GUILLEN was placed under arrest for Criminal Mischief (A misdemeanor)and Tampering w/Evidence (C felony). He was lodged at Lemon Creek Correctional Center.

The 17-year old was arrested for Criminal Mischief (A misdemeanor), Resisting Arrest (A misdemeanor), and Escape in the Fourth Degree (A misdemeanor). The Escape charge was as a result of after being arrested, his attempts to flee from the back seat of a marked police car. He was lodged at the Johnson Youth Center.

If residents in the affected area find new damage to their buildings from spray paint, they are encourage to report it to JPD at 586-0600.