A rash of graffiti that has cropped up in public and private spaces across Malden this summer has drawn the anger of city officials, and responses from both police and private citizens. Ward 1 has been hit hardest, experiencing two major incidents of graffiti vandalism just this year. On May 25, Memorial Day, police reported that Bell Rock Memorial Park was spray-painted, along with houses, vehicles and businesses on Cross and Ashland streets and the Ferryway School area. A police report said that the graffiti and writing in both the park and the other locations appeared to be similar. The damage to the park included graffiti — some of it profane — on two of its monuments. “A lot of residents and businesses were upset,” said ward councilor Gary Christenson, a resident himself, who reported the Bell Rock incident to the police. “It was pretty bad. In the past, typically I’ve seen community businesses get tagged, but I’ve never seen private residences or cars.” In addition to the park, private residences and vehicles, the damaged property included the Furniture Concepts on Cross Street and the Ferryway School. A videotape identified a group of three to four youths entering the park that evening, and a can of spray paint was recovered by police at the park. However, it has yielded no fingerprints. As for the video, Malden Police Detectives Lt. Thomas Swanson said, “You could see figures, but you certainly couldn’t make any identif ...
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A rash of graffiti that has cropped up in public and private spaces across Malden this summer has drawn the anger of city officials, and responses from both police and private citizens. Ward 1 has been hit hardest, experiencing two major incidents of graffiti vandalism just this year. On May 25, Memorial Day, police reported that Bell Rock Memorial Park was spray-painted, along with houses, vehicles and businesses on Cross and Ashland streets and the Ferryway School area. A police report said that the graffiti and writing in both the park and the other locations appeared to be similar. The damage to the park included graffiti — some of it profane — on two of its monuments. “A lot of residents and businesses were upset,” said ward councilor Gary Christenson, a resident himself, who reported the Bell Rock incident to the police. “It was pretty bad. In the past, typically I’ve seen community businesses get tagged, but I’ve never seen private residences or cars.” In addition to the park, private residences and vehicles, the damaged property included the Furniture Concepts on Cross Street and the Ferryway School. A videotape identified a group of three to four youths entering the park that evening, and a can of spray paint was recovered by police at the park. However, it has yielded no fingerprints. As for the video, Malden Police Detectives Lt. Thomas Swanson said, “You could see figures, but you certainly couldn’t make any identif ...