8 vandal suspects to face trial
Eight people Port Authority police say vandalized light rail vehicles Oct. 27 and Nov. 1 will answer charges in court and could be questioned by Crafton police about graffiti in Crafton Borough Park.
Michael Monack, 18, of S. 15th Street, South Side, was held for court during a preliminary hearing Monday before Upper St. Clair District Justice Sally Edkins on charges of defiant trespass, criminal mischief and criminal conspiracy.
Waiving their rights to preliminary hearings on the same charges yesterday were:
Port Authority police said in an affidavit that Monack and the others, on Oct. 27 and Nov. 1, spray painted trolley cars parked at the Port Authority Rail Center, which is adjacent to South Hills Village Shopping Center in Upper St. Clair.
On Oct. 27, police said Monack and three others did a total of $25,000 damage to 11 trolleys.
Police said one of a group of six suspects was detained by Port Authority employees and Upper St. Clair Police on Nov. 1, when 24 trolleys were spray painted. No damage estimate for the Nov. 1 incident was available.
The affidavit said that Monack "tagged" the trolley cars "human hater" on Oct. 27 and has used that "tag," as well as "Mook," on other occasions of vandalism.
Port Authority police said the six persons who waived their rights to preliminary hearings yesterday participated in one or the other, or both, trolley vandalism incidents.
Also, Port Authority police have petitioned Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Juvenile Court to deal with a 17-year-old male juvenile from Mt. Washington, whom they say also was involved in spray painting the trolley cars on Nov. 1.
The Port Authority police affidavit states that the suspects call themselves "Value Krew" and Spokesman Bob Grove said the initials "V.K." were spray painted on the trolley cars.
Crafton police found graffiti which include the initials "V.K." at Crafton Borough Park and ball field on Nov. 12.
Police believe the same person(s) spray painted 10 areas in the park, the field house at the ball field, a garage door and trailer at a residence and the outside wall of a business - all along West Steuben Street, all on Nov. 11 and 12.
Grove said Port Authority police have invited municipal police departments to "come down and look at the (graffiti) evidence we have."
"Other police departments can bring in what they have," he explained, "match it up and see if it is the same type of graffiti."
Port Authority police have photos of graffiti other than the damage done to the trolley cars, Grove said.
"I'm very hopeful that we can get something out of the Port Authority police," said Crafton Mayor Ed Stewart. "It would be so nice to get these people prosecuted."
Stewart said he "hates this kind of crime," describing it as "an insult to police as well as to the residents."
