Cameras capture duo damaging cars at California University

Security cameras in the parking garage at California University of Pennsylvania played a key role in Sunday's arrest of two men accused of damaging vehicles, authorities said.

University police arrested Tyler Ballengee, 21, of Enon Valley and Michael Koran, 20, of Moon. Both were charged with institutional vandalism, criminal mischief and criminal conspiracy, and taken to the Washington County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bond.

Police allege that in the early-morning hours of Feb. 26, Ballengee and Koran damaged two university-owned Smart cars that were parked in the Vulcan Parking Garage on the campus in California. Damage was estimated at $1,500.

The vehicles are used by the university's park and transportation office for parking enforcement.

Neither of the accused men is a student at the university. Police said they were visiting California.

Police distributed security-camera images of the suspected vandals to local newspapers and television stations in February. The images recently were used again in a demonstration of the security system, and someone at the Vulcan Village housing complex recognized the suspects.

Ballengee and Koran were arrested at police headquarters in Allegheny County, where they are facing charges in an unrelated incident.