Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

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December 29, 2008

Suspected vandals are arrested

BY ART BUKOWSKI

TRAVERSE CITY -- Three teens suspected of shooting out dozens of windows in the Traverse City area couldn't remember exactly how many they destroyed, police said.

The answer was equally vague when officers asked for the motive behind a destructive, two-week rampage that left more than 50 home, vehicle and business windows shattered by projectiles from high-powered BB guns.

"They couldn't give us any reasons whatsoever," Traverse City Police Capt. Steve Morgan said.

Kyle Leiter, 17, of Rapid City, and Stephen Pina, 18, of Kewadin, each are expected to be charged with malicious destruction of property, Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Alan Schneider said.

Police wouldn't identify a third teen, a male, 15, of Traverse City, who is expected to be charged as a juvenile. Authorities are still ironing out details from dozens of reports in an effort to determine the number and nature of charges for each suspect, Schneider said.

A Grand Traverse sheriff's deputy stopped the trio Friday night as they drove along Front Street in a tan, early '90s Buick. A Traverse City resident provided police with a description of the car after an incident the night before on East State Street.

The resident heard a commotion Thursday night and noticed the Buick drive by with several people inside. He called police with a description of the vehicle on Friday after he discovered the window had been shot out of his neighbor's vehicle.

Police were heading to investigate the shooting of a window at the Front Street Burger King -- the second such shooting at the same location in about a week -- when a deputy spotted and stopped the teens' car at about 9:45 p.m. Friday.

One of the teens stepped outside the car and BBs spilled into the street, Morgan said. Three CO2-powered BB pistols and BB ammunition were found in the car, police said.

The tip and vehicle description from the East State Street resident were crucial, Morgan said.

"It's great that we had someone paying attention to the fact that we had this going on," he said. "They were able to supply us with something to go on, (because) for a while there, we had nothing."

Cass Street resident Patrick Daly was downstate for Christmas, but arrived home Saturday to find the rear window of his truck, which he left parked in the driveway, shattered by BB shot.

Daly said he was thrilled when he found out about the arrests.

"It was really great to hear they caught them," he said. "It's unfortunate that that's how some teenagers get their kicks in town."

But Daly doesn't think the string of shootings reflects poorly on the area.

"As atrocious as it was, I still look at our community as a safe community," he said. "This was just some teenagers with idle time and poor decision-making."

Boyne Country Sports in downtown Traverse City may have to replace two $1200 windows hit last week, Manager Brian Nowak said. The windows are shatterproof, but two small holes on the window faces are beginning to spider.

Nowak heard of dozens of incidents around town, and he believes the vandalism is especially devastating in tough economic times. But it's about more than money for homeowners and business owners.

"Think of how much time and energy everyone's got to spend because of some 18-year-olds having fun," he said.

Pina and Leiter both are out on bond, a court spokeswoman said.

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