Man Arrested for Defacing Sound Barrier Wall in St. Petersburg
A man in St. Petersburg, Florida, was recently arrested for defacing a sound barrier wall. According to court documents, the suspect, Ryan Howard, 33 years old, was charged with resisting arrest and criminal mischief (Fox News Digital). The incident took place on Saturday when the St. Petersburg Police Department received reports of a white man spray-painting the concrete wall in the area (Fox News Digital). Witnesses described the suspect as a man in his 20s to 40s wearing a white cloth around his neck and tan-and-white shorts. He was last seen walking westbound on 54th Avenue South (Fox News Digital).
Police officers were dispatched to the scene and one of them spotted a man matching the description. Upon approaching the suspect, later identified as Ryan Howard, the officer noticed that Howard had white shorts and a black bag containing spray paint cans (Fox News Digital). When asked for his name, Howard remained silent. He then allegedly claimed his name was “Mr. Monopoly,” the iconic mascot of the board game “Monopoly” (NBCUniversal via Getty Images).
The officer persisted and informed Howard that he was conducting a criminal investigation and required him to identify himself. However, Howard continued to refuse to comply. As a result, he was placed in the back of a police vehicle (Fox News Digital). During the transportation to the Pinellas County Jail, Howard eventually revealed his real name, Ryan Howard, which was confirmed by a Maine driver’s license found on him (Fox News Digital).
Despite his attempt to emulate the “Monopoly” character, Howard did not pass “Go” or collect $200. Instead, he collected a “Go to Jail” card and was transported to the Pinellas County Jail (Fox News Digital). After posting a $1,000 bond, he was eventually released (Fox News Digital).
This incident highlights the importance of individuals cooperating with law enforcement officers during criminal investigations. Resisting arrest and providing false information can lead to additional charges and legal consequences. It also serves as a reminder that defacing public property is a criminal offense and can result in serious penalties.
