A 19-year-old suspect is set to face felony charges following multiple acts of alleged vandalism across Emporia Wednesday.
Emporia Police apprehended 19-year-old Isaac A. Lawrence Wednesday afternoon after EPD and Emporia State University Police and Safety received multiple complaints of criminal damage to property across town. The alleged acts of vandalism included spray-painted images, some done in the form of swastikas, at Sonic Drive-In, Casey’s General Store at 50 and Graphic Arts Road, Emporia High School, Pizza Ranch and Emporia State’s Visser Hall during the overnight hours Tuesday.
Emporia Police Cpt. Ray Mattas tells KVOE News that several more scenes of alleged vandalism were discovered at Emporia High School over the course of the investigation upgrading the offense to a felony level. According to Mattas, damage estimates are more than $1,000 at this time.
Mattas says the investigation determined the alleged crimes were not “hate or biased related.”
Formal charges through the Lyon County Attorney’s Office are currently pending and may be filed by early next week according to County Attorney Marc Goodman.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more updates as the case progresses.
4:55 pm Wednesday: UPDATE: Suspect in custody following multiple acts of alleged criminal damage across Emporia
Local authorities have apprehended an individual allegedly responsible for multiple acts of vandalism across Emporia Wednesday.
Emporia Police Captain Ray Mattas tells KVOE News that EPD and Emporia State University Police and Safety received several calls of criminal damage to multiple properties across town Wednesday. All of the damage included spray-painted images with some being done in the form of swastikas.
The locations affected include Sonic Drive-In, Casey’s General Store at 50 and Graphic Arts Road, Emporia High School, Pizza Ranch and Emporia State’s Visser Hall. Following an investigation into the incidents, EPD arrested 19-year-old Isaac A. Lawrence on suspicion of five acts of criminal damage to property.
Formal charges through Emporia Municipal Court are currently pending.
12:03 pm Wednesday: Emporia Police investigating criminal damage at Emporia’s Sonic Drive-In
A recent act of vandalism at a local fast-food restaurant has gained the attention of Emporia Police.
Wednesday, KVOE was alerted to an incident of criminal damage at Emporia’s Sonic Drive-In after several swastikas were spray-painted on structures located at the property in the 1100 block of West Sixth Ave. According to Emporia Police Cpt. Ray Mattas, the swastikas were likely spray-painted in the evening hours Tuesday.
Mattas says EPD and Sonic management do not believe the incident was directed at the restaurant or any specific individuals at this time.
If you have any information on the incident or those involved you’re asked to contact Emporia Police at 620-343-4200.
