Two men nabbed after buckets of paint are thrown off roof of Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor police say
Ann Arbor police arrested two men this morning who are accused of throwing at least two five-gallon buckets of white paint off the roof of the Michigan Theater into an alley.
A 21-year-old from Brooklyn and a 20-year-old from Jerome were released after the 2 a.m. incident as police continue to investigate. A third person jumped off the roof onto a Dumpster and got away, the report said.
Police did not have a damage estimate, and theater employees could not be reached for comment this morning. There were two white buckets in the alley this morning and paint was splattered on doors to the building, the brick exterior and on the ground.
The men told police they went to the theater to meet friends on the roof after one of them was refused entry into a bar because he was drunk, the report said.
Officers apprehended the two men on the roof after an employee called 911 about 2 a.m.
The employee heard noise, saw paint on a carpet near a door to the east alley and walked outside to find someone walking on the roof, the report said.
Employees told police the doors to the theater at 603 East Liberty Street were locked and could only be accessed with a key. One of the men told officers they walked through a side door and up a staircase to access the roof; the report didn't say whether the door was locked or unlocked.
It's unclear where the men got the paint. One of them had white paint on both hands and told police he worked as a painter, the report said.
Both men denied knowing how the paint got in the alley, according to the report.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at leehiggins@annarbor.com or 734-623-2527.
Comments
Theo212
Wed, Sep 16, 2009 : 6:32 a.m.
If the cops didn't have to drive through all those dumb roundabouts that are being built, then they would have already been on hand and this horrible, terrible crime would have never happened!!!
TheInfamousOne
Tue, Sep 15, 2009 : 6:42 p.m.
Funny, both men denied knowing how the paint got in the alley. One guy got away jumping on top of the dumpster and one guy had white paint on his hands. If the gloves don't fit, you must acquit. :)
treetowncartel
Tue, Sep 15, 2009 : 1:53 p.m.
Drunken debauchery, goes hand in hand with yourth and drinking. The cops/prosecutors are going to have a hard time proving the mens rea for some of those things they did wrong.
Chaitea
Tue, Sep 15, 2009 : 1:51 p.m.
What they did was wrong and they need to be made accountable however at the same time I feel we are very blessed that these are the kinds of crimes we face here in A2 unlike many cities throughout Michigan and the rest of the US. I think I'll stay here :)
a2huron
Tue, Sep 15, 2009 : 1:42 p.m.
Yes, but you all have to admit Jen was funny (once you were on to him/her)...
11GOBLUE11
Tue, Sep 15, 2009 : 12:33 p.m.
Trolsen's baiting you fellers.
Eric P
Tue, Sep 15, 2009 : 12:26 p.m.
Jen said "these two did nothing wrong" here is what they did wrong: 1) on the roof which is trespassing 2) throwing paint off the roof: a) reckless endangerment b) MDOP (vandalism)
Jen Trolsen
Tue, Sep 15, 2009 : 12:09 p.m.
these two did nothing wrong. if the paint belonged to them, no law was broken. They should be sueing the Ann Arbor police Dept. for harasment!