Police attempt to locate suspect
One arrested in local graffiti caseBy Jenny Lancour
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Sometime overnight, between April 18-19, property at the athletic field was damaged. Gang-like graffiti was painted on four buildings, including a new concession stand under construction.
Last week, police arrested Justin Seymour, 20, Escanaba, and charged him with malicious damage of property more than $1,000 but less than $20,000, said Det. Lt. Joe LeMire. Seymour remains lodged in Delta
County Jail on the felony charge.
A second suspect who police are actively searching for and believe to be connected to the graffiti, is Jonathan Kolaske, 20, Escanaba, said LeMire on Friday, adding, “all suspects are innocent until proven guilty.”
Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating this suspect. Anyone with information about Kolaske is asked to contact Escanaba Public Safety at 786-5911.
“If anyone has seen or knows where he is, please contact the police,” LeMire said, adding no one should try to apprehend or have contact with the suspect.
The vandalism, discovered a month ago, upset many people in the community, the detective said. The case has affected hundreds of people, including those who have donated money to the project or donated their time as a volunteer, he said.
Jerry Shapy, chairman of the facilities project, said Friday he is hopeful that some day, those who did the damage at the athletic field will realize what they did and how many people it impacted.
“Everybody owns this building,” Shapy said. “They hurt this community, the people who did this.”
To date, about $343,000 in cash and pledges has been received from area residents and businesses as well as from people out of town, Shapy said. Another $300,000-$350,000 worth of labor has been donated to the project, he said.
For the past month, volunteers and a professional painter have been cleaning up the graffiti that was spray-painted on a variety of surfaces, Shapy said. Some paint has been removed by pressure washing it off. Other areas had to be repainted. Graffiti on the new mortar is being removed with a chemical.
As of Friday, all the graffiti has been taken care of except for the spray paint on two walls of the concession stand, said Shapy who is happy with the cleanup results. He also was notified Friday that insurance for the city and school — which own the property — will cover most of the cleanup costs.
The Escanaba Fan Club Facilities Committee built a ramp and added railing to the bleachers, built a storage and warm-up room for the band, built a baseball storage area and repainted the stadium and other buildings. Signs, fencing and gating have been erected.
The concession building is near completion. Paver blocks and plaques, paid for by donors, are being installed on walkways and walls. Concrete, top soil and trees will complete the project, Shapy said.
The facilities committee plans to show case the new concession stand and renovations at a July 5 open house, he added.
The last phase of the project will be to build a new baseball stadium, he said. Work will begin in a couple months to remove a brown building from the site and construct new bleachers. A groundwater well will also be drilled to irrigate the entire athletic field.
