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Information sought on recent graffiti

by EMILY BONSANT
Hagadone News Network | December 4, 2021 1:00 AM

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PONDERAY — North 40 was defaced with graffiti tagged sometime in the night Wednesday Dec. 1, Ponderay Police officials said.

The graffiti was discovered early in the morning as North 40 staff was opening for the day, Ponderay Police Sg. Brian Koch said. While North 40 has video cameras, Koch said the police department will have to get the video from the store’s corporate office.

The graffiti is consistent with other recent incidents in Ponderay and Sandpoint.

“Hopefully we will do a story soon with the person responsible,” said Koch.

Steve Geiger, Ponderay mayor and owner of In and Out Painting, said that similar graffiti was found at the Bonner Mall just below the JC Penny sign and at the Sandpoint Safeway. With the recent growth that Ponderay and Sandpoint have experienced, Geiger said it’s not surprising that petty crimes such as graffiti have picked up.

“I would like to think we are a city that won’t let people get away with this,” said Geiger.

He went on to say that this sort of behavior is unacceptable not just in North Idaho, but across the country. Geiger went further to say that as a business owner he would chip in $500 with other businesses to put out a reward to arrest and convict to the full extent of the law the person responsible.

He said that a reward would show that Ponderay stands together and does not tolerate this behavior and blatant disrespect to property. Geiger is still looking into the legality of such a reward.

“Ponderay will stomp this out as soon as we can,” said Geiger.

Geiger said he sent down a team of painters to North 40 to help cover the graffiti, but the staff at North 40 had already made quick work of the defacement. Geiger said that his business has had experience covering up defacement in the past, especially during election time.

He said that an example has to set and that those that break the law must pay a debt to society and the public. He fully advocates for the person responsible to be publicly shamed and put to work cleaning up the community.

The Ponderay Police Department is seeking information to identify the suspect, or suspects.

If you have any information on who is responsible, please contact Detective Sgt. Koch. He can be reached at 208-265-4251 or through the Ponderay Police Facebook Messenger.

Anonymous tips are also highly welcomed. They can be submitted at: http://www.ponderaypd.org/contact/leaveananonymoustip.html

Further information will be provided when it becomes available. The Ponderay Police Department thanks those in advance for their assistance.