Revere pair charged with tagging bandstand

REVERE – Troopers from the State Police Barracks in Revere arrested two city men Friday after a Department of Conservation and Recreation manager reported someone had tagged a wall at the William G. Reinstein Bandstand, according to a State Police incident report.Troopers John Phonesavanh and Joseph Barteaux arrested Jorge Maldonado, 22, of 176 Broadway and Mark Church, 21, of 84 Walnut Ave., Revere, and charged them with malicious destruction of public property over $250 after the troopers found them with cans of spray paint and paint on their hands, according to the report.The troopers responded to the bandstand around 6 a.m. Friday after a manager for the Department of Conversation and Recreation noticed two men photographing the vandalized property before riding away on similarly painted bicycles, according to the report. Police located Church nearby behind the Twist and Shake parking lot, and found Maldonado nearby with spray paint on his hands, according to the report.A search of Maldonado’s backpack turned up three spray paint bottle caps, markers and rubber gloves that are “consistent with tagging,” according to the report.Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo said the tagging “sends a very bad message.””It makes you feel as though you’re in a run-down part of town,” Rizzo said Monday. “It’s very important, not only with our bandstand but any sights around the city with graffiti, to make sure we get the owners on top of it right away.”The bandstand has already been cleaned, Rizzo said, commending the DCR for quickly taking care of the situation.”From what I understand, the kids are a little misguided, and I’m grateful the problem was corrected,” he said.”During booking at the State Police barracks Friday, Church told police he “admitted to doing everything and to place the blame on him,” and provided police with a written statement admitting his guilt, according to the report.Police additionally charged Church with violating the city knife ordinance and possessing alcohol on the park’s property, according to court records. Judge James Wexler ordered both men released on personal recognizance Monday during a hearing in Chelsea District Court, and they are due back July 26 for a pre-trial hearing.Taylor Provost can be reached at [email protected].