Nineteen-year-old William Stopoulous has been charged with second-degree malicious mischief in connection to vandalism that occurred on June 14 in Gig Harbor.
On June 15, a maintenance worker for the contacted the police regarding some vandalism at the bathrooms.
discovered an empty whiskey bottle on the floor and obscene drawings and other graffiti on every wall in the bathroom. Police said the drawings included a stick figure being shot through the head with a gun, which had a caption referencing one of the officers on the department.
Authorities also said there was a message that said, “The library kids return” and other indications that the suspect was affiliated with Tacoma's Hilltop Crips street gang.
Later that day, police responded to the courtyard of a restaurant on Pt. Fosdick Drive where three males, possibly intoxicated, were sleeping outside.
One of the men, identified as Stopoulous, said he had been sleeping outside after being up all night. He said he came to Gig Harbor on June 14 and went to meet up with his friends in Port Orchard.
During their conversation, the officer found the same colors of paint on Stopoulous’ hands. The suspect said he liked to draw and paint but denied being involved in the vandalism from the previous night.
Inside his backpack, police found a clipboard with the same words and drawings found at the park bathroom. The suspect eventually admitted to being at the park between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on June 14. He also told police that he was a member of the Crips gang.
According to records, Gig Harbor Police arrested the suspect in 2011 on a robbery charge and for making several threats to kill the arresting officer.
Police said the estimated cost of damage is $1,000. The restrooms at KLM Park are closed until further notice.
