MASON CITY – They allegedly stood on top of one car and proceeded to swing a bat downward in a violent fashion, striking the windshield until it shattered.
This vehicle and others incurred serious damage early Wednesday morning at the hands of at least two teens, who may have been drunk, NIT is told, and have been arrested but can’t be named due to a state law.
This morning, a 16-year-old male juvenile and a 15-year-old male juvenile were arrested for allegedly damaging multiple vehicles parked in the Highlands neighborhood in northeast Mason City. There appear to be at least 3 vehicles that were dented or had windows broken out. Mason City police are awaiting damage estimates. Combined damage is easily over $1,000.00, they say.
The 2 males were arrested in the 1500 block of North Hampshire at 3:07 separately before 4:00 AM. The 16-year-old was outside a residence and the 15-year-old was located inside the residence. Officers contacted the younger boy’s parent(s) and asked that a parent come home. The juvenile’s parent was cooperative and came to the scene. Police then took the 15-year-old teen into custody from inside the residence at approx 3:56 AM.
Most of the damaged vehicles appear to be located in the same area that the juveniles were arrested and the 700 block of 15th Place NE. No one else is being sought at this time – police believe only these two were involved.
Both juveniles were charged with Unlawful Consumption; 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief; 3rd Degree Criminal Mischief; and 4th Degree Criminal Mischief. The 16-year-old was released to JCS staff and the 15-year-old was released to a parent.
A victim of the vandalism spree told NIT this morning that one car “got it worse .. they were on the roof” swinging a bat at the car’s windows.
“The cops said they were (about) 16 years old and drunk,” the alleged victim continued. “A neighbor who was an old cop heard the commotion because they tried to bust his windows and left and I guess he came out and followed them after they did my windows … they went around the corner to the white car and was vandalizing that car and the guy yelled at them and the kids took off and went through the back yards and they watched them walk into the house.”
