Police say two teens admit to breaking dozens of windows

Sedalia police have found two teenagers who authorities say admitted to breaking windows on 60 vehicles and four businesses.

Two boys, ages 15 and 16, were turned over to juvenile authorities. Officers found a BB handgun and BBs at the home of one of the boys, who lives in the county, said Police Chief John DeGonia.

Sedalia police found the second batch of broken vehicle windows Thursday morning. Officers took reports of broken windows on nearly 30 vehicles late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning in southwest Sedalia.

Pettis County Juvenile Officer Maria Mittelhauser said one of the boys remained in juvenile custody Thursday evening, while the other was released to his parents. Juvenile officers planned to file a petition with the court, she said.

Typical punishments for juveniles can include probation, restitution, community service and a special curfew.
A tip from a witness led to the boys.

The witness described seeing a late model red Mercury Cougar when a window was broken, DeGonia said. Officers on the night shift sifted through computer data on all red Mercury Cougars entered into the department’s system. They started driving by the homes of each vehicle owner on file matching the car’s description.

“It was very intensive,” DeGonia said. “Once they believed they found the car, the officers contacted the detectives, and they started the investigation. ... The night shift and detectives did one heck of a job. Twenty-four hours later, we have suspects and are getting ready to go through the system.”

Cmdr. Cendy Harrell said the car belonged to the 15-year-old, who was the driver. She said the boys admitted to going on the vandalism spree out of boredom.

Among those making reports Thursday morning were: Daniel J. Weller, 502 W. 14th St.; William Barlish, 515 S. Engineer Ave.; Jack Cramer, 913 E. Fourth St.; Marco Cerbantes, of Sedalia, at 913 E. Fourth St.; Michael Randall, of Sedalia, at 1318 S. Lamine Ave.; June Jordan, of Sedalia, at 1318 S. Lamine Ave.; Vincent Crook, of Sedalia, at 1318 S. Lamine Ave.; Svetlana Strelmikova, 1015 S. Ohio Ave.; Olga Zalozh, of Sedalia, at 1015 S. Harrison Ave.; Chelsea Compton, 1411 S. Carr Ave.; Tyler Hoffert, 1408 S. Barrett Ave.; J.C. Copeland, 1100 S. Barrett Ave.; Sarah Bishop, 1803 S. Wagner Ave.; Donald Martinez, 506 E. 19th St.; Montgomery Kendrick, 504 E. 14th St.; Kevin Reader, 2522 N. Woodlawn Drive; Dennis Brandes, of Platt City, at 1911 W. Fifth St.; Ryan Brinkman, 1911 W. Fifth St.; Shaylen Paxton, 229 S. Moniteau Ave.; Amanda Harness, 701 W. Second St.; Diane Neth, of Sedalia, at 917 E. Fourth St.; Michael Studt, 2606 W. 32nd St.; Eric Rogers, 1720 S. Carr Ave.; Barbara White, of Lincoln, at 601 E. 14th St.; Terry Doyal, 1722 S. Carr Ave.; Sara Miller, 1601 W. Broadway Blvd.; Jared Monsess, of Sedalia, at West 11th Street and South Grand Avenue; and a customer’s car parked at Enterprise, 2409 W. Broadway Blvd.
A Sedalia Post Office employee, 405 E. Fifth St., also reported a window on the building was broken. And, Marcia Simmons, owner of Canine Designs, 104 E. Seventh St., reported a broken window on her building.

Officers encouraged all vehicle owners with broken windows to get estimates for repairs and make reports, if they have not yet made a report. The information will help with an accurate figure for possible restitution, officers said.

Harrell said some of the vehicles had multiple windows broken, and the business windows would likely cost more to replace.

“That really adds up,” she said.
Officers had yet to establish a total dollar amount on the damage, but Harrell said at the least it could be $8,000 to $10,000.