Cape police question teens about weekend vandalism

Three teen boys are being questioned about reports of vandalism after three Cape Girardaeu businesses' windows and the windows of nine vehicles, including a police car, were broken.

The damage is suspected to have taken place between Saturday night and Sunday evening, according to Cape Girardeau police spokesman Jason Selzer.

No property was reported stolen, but the case is still under investigation, he said.

No citations had been filed as of Monday afternoon against the boys being questioned, two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old, according to Selzer.

Around 8 a.m. Sunday, a police officer patrolling near Melrose Avenue and Margaret Street spotted smoke and thought there was a fire in a nearby wooded area. While investigating, the officer saw the three boys burning CDs, Selzer said. An empty alcohol bottle was also at the scene.

The officer took the boys home to their parents. Through questioning and investigating the material that had been burned, the boys were linked to the vandalism.

Jaspers, 1008 N. Kingshighway, and Food Giant, 1120 N. Kingshighway, reported glass doors being broken. Budget Inn, 1448 N. Kingshighway, also reported broken windows.

At least two of the stores reported finding a brick assumed to have smashed the glass, Selzer said.

The vehicles damaged included one each in the 200 block of South Spanish Street, the 400 block of South Missouri Avenue, the 200 block of South Louisiana Avenue, the 1600 block of Bessie Street and at the intersection of Bloomfield Road and Koch Avenue.

Two vehicles were also found with broken windows in Arena Park and two in the 1900 block of David Drive.

The vehicle on Bessie Street was a marked police squad car, Selzer said.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127