HEARTLAND, Texas — Two additional arrests have been made in connection with racially-charged vandalism in Heartland which occurred earlier this month.
HEARTLAND, Texas — Two additional arrests have been made in connection with racially-charged vandalism in Heartland which occurred earlier this month.
Two juveniles, 15 and 16 years old, were arrested earlier today and a third juvenile, 14 years old, is also pending arrest, according to the Crandall Police Department Chief Dean Winters.
Overnight, April 7, 2017, vandals spray painted the N-word and poured soap in the fountain at the Heartland community sign off Interstate 20 and FM 741. This incident was investigated by the Mesquite Police Department and three arrests were made.
The following night, vandalism, including the painting of “F*** crakers” on a residence’s fence, occurred in the Heartland community which was investigated by the Crandall Police Department.
“The investigation yielded video evidence and tips from the community that led to the identification of 3 juvenile suspects,” Winters told inForney.com.
Earlier today, the 15 and 16 year old suspects, of Heartland, were arrested and booked into the Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center where they are being held pending a detention hearing, according to Winters.
All three suspects in the Crandall Police Department case face the same charges: criminal mischief greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000, a state-jail felony; criminal mischief greater than or equal to $750 and less than $2,500, a class A misdemeanor; and criminal mischief greater than or equal to $100 and less than $750, a class C misdemeanor.
“The Crandall Police Department wants to thank the residents for their vigilance in assisting in the investigation,” stated Winters. “That partnership helps keep the community safe.”
18-year-old Kruz Medrano and 17-year-old Joshua Patton, both of Crandall, were arrested by the Mesquite Police Department in connection with the original vandalism case on the Heartland community sign. A third suspect, who at the time of the offense was a juvenile, was also arrested.
“With the assistance of the Crandall Police Department, Mesquite Police Department investigators were able to develop suspects in the case,” Mesquite Police Department spokesperson Lt. Brian Parrish told inForney.com at the time of the arrests. “Investigators interviewed the suspects and received a confession.”
“The Crandall Police Department will continue to use all available resources to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of the Heartland Community and City of Crandall,” he said.
