Nanaimo RCMP has arrested a man for spray painting a police vehicle. The incident began when an officer responded to an unrelated report of spray painting at a Tim Hortons located on Wallace St. on Oct. 25. Police said store employees told the officer someone had spray painted their floor, but had left just before he arrived. Police said as the officer began to take pictures of the damage, someone yelled out “they’re painting your car!”
“The officer ran outside and sure enough, an unknown person was standing on the hood of the police vehicle meticulously painting the windshield,” said Const. Gary O’Brien. “As the officer approached, the man hopped off the hood and acting on another great idea, decided to give the side of the police car one last blast of paint.”
Police arrested the man and found a small quantity of crystal methamphetamine in his belongings, according to RCMP. Police said the 24-year-old man is being charged with two counts of mischief, but no charges will be laid for the drugs.
“The discovery of the illegal drugs might just explain the individual’s need to spray paint the police car,” said O’Brien.
The officer was able to remove the spray paint using graffiti wipes.
The man’s court date is set for early Feb. 2021 in Nanaimo provincial court.
