OCEAN CITY — No arrests have been made for the bold graffiti spree in Ocean City last week, although suspects have been identified and charges are expected to be filed in roughly three weeks.
On Sunday, April 19, a vandal or more likely vandals struck a wide swath of the downtown Ocean City area early last Sunday morning with a bold graffiti spree on buildings, vehicles and other structures roughly between 16th and 20th Streets right along Coastal Highway.
The spray paint spree included restaurant walls, shopping center windows, motel windows and walls and multiple vehicles. According to OCPD spokesperson Lindsay Richard, officers initially located several graffiti “taggings” in the areas from 16th Street to 20th Street and east of Philadelphia Ave. around 5 a.m. on Sunday.
While some of the hardest hit areas have been power-washed or painted, evidence of the graffiti spree is still evident throughout the stretch of Coastal Highway hit by the vandals.
Richard said last week a thorough search of the area between 16th and 20th Streets revealed roughly 45 “taggings” had been located affecting multiple businesses and citizens.
While a suspect or suspects have been identified, the investigation into the graffiti spree has grown beyond the affected area in Ocean City, according to Richard this week, and no charges have been filed although they are pending.
“Quite a few other jurisdictions are involved in this investigation,” she said. “Because of the complexities associated with that, we don’t expect to charge the suspects until approximately May 20.”