Man charged with string of vandalism, tagging

EPHRATA - A string of vandalism in September allegedly started with a man angry with his ex-girlfriend.

Prosecutors charged Salvador M. Rose, 20, Moses Lake, with malicious mischief in the second degree and 12 counts of tagging and graffiti in Grant County Superior Court, according to court records. Rose was recently arrested for on a bench warrant for the case.

Rose reportedly spray painted several homes and vehicles in a single night in September, according to a Moses Lake police report. The incidents allegedly started with a Frontage Road home where Rose's ex-girlfriend lived. He vandalized the garage and five vehicles in the driveway.

The incidents reportedly continued on Sage Road, including spray painting a truck canopy, garage door, seven vehicles and the Washington State Patrol Office, according to the police report. Rose is accused of vandalizing three vehicles in the Best Western parking lot.

Police allegedly found shoe prints matching Rose's shoes near one of the incidents, and the same color spray paint was used at all of the incidents, according to the police report.

Rose initially denied the incidents, saying he gave the spray paint cans he received to a friend, according to the police report. He allegedly later admitted to the vandalism, saying he was mad at his ex-girlfriend after she punched him and was rude to him on the phone and the Internet. He allegedly said the Frontage Road residence was his target and he vandalized the other homes and cars because he continued to be angry.

He reportedly continued to deny vandalizing the Washington State Patrol office.