Last Updated on January 21, 2017 1:39 pm
UPDATE Friday January 27 – Boone Police have made arrest in the investigation. More information at this link.
UPDATE Monday 12:18pm – Boone Police have released more videos of the suspects.
Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 828-268-6959 / 828-737-0125 or the Boone Police Department at 828-268-6900. You may also submit a Crime Stoppers Tip via our website at https://www.tipsubmit.com/webtips.aspx?AgencyID=1251 or Text “NCTIP plus your tip” to 274637 (CRIMES). All information will be kept confidential.
UPDATE Monday 11:23am – According to Boone Police, the two females pictured purchasing paint at Wal-Mart have been identified. They have met with investigators and are no longer suspects. The department would like to thank you to all who assisted in identifying these persons.
UPDATE Sunday January 22 6:12pm –
High Country Crime Stoppers and Boone Police seek the public’s assistance in solving the following crime:
On January 21, 2017, shortly before 4 AM, several subjects started vandalizing buildings in downtown Boone. The subjects traveled east along King Street and continued damaging buildings, signs, and a police car. Attached are still photographs of two subjects purchasing paint at Wal-Mart shortly before the vandalism spree. Video and still images of the subjects walking on King Street are also attached. Photos of some of the damage are also attached. They have been edited due to the graphic content. Damage is estimated at $5,000.
Anyone with information on this crime or any other crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 828-268-6959 / 828-737-0125 or the Boone Police Department at 828-268-6900. You may also submit a Crime Stoppers Tip via our website at https://www.tipsubmit.com/webtips.aspx?AgencyID=1251 or Text “NCTIP plus your tip” to 274637 (CRIMES). All information will be kept confidential.
High Country Crime Stoppers pays rewards for information, which leads to arrests; recovery of stolen property; seizure of drugs and the location of wanted persons.
UPDATE Saturday January 21 10:18pm – Boone Police Chief Dana Crawford has issued a statement regarding the graffiti. The full unedited statement is below:
As Chief of Police, I assure the citizens of Boone that this case will be a priority for us. It is deeply disturbing that some people believe that they have the right to damage other people’s property and businesses to express their views in an unlawful way. While people have the right to disagree with any elected official, damaging innocent people’s property is not consistent with Boone values.
The words “Black Lives Matter” was spray painted on several locations along with anti-police and anti-Trump slogans. In addition to the vandalisms reported earlier, a police vehicle parked at the town’s public works facility was spray painted with similar rhetoric. This is an offense against all of Boone. The cost of cleaning or repainting a police vehicle is not coming from President Trump but Boone taxpayers.
We are encouraging all four of the suspects who vandalized the property to contact the Boone Police Department to turn themselves in for arrest and cooperate with the investigation. If not we will release video through Crime Stoppers tomorrow. We obviously know more than we are releasing at this point to give the suspects a brief opportunity to surrender themselves.~ Chief Dana Crawford
Several Boone businesses are the victims of graffiti on Friday night and into Saturday morning.
Daniel Boone Inn, Earth Fare and Legends were among the business and locations impacted, according to social media reports. The graffiti contained vulgar language and remarks against President Donald Trump. Due to the language contained in the graffiti WataugaOnline.com is not at this time publishing the photos found online.
WataugaOnline.com will update as more information becomes avaiable.
