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Hernando Deputies Make Arrest in Graffiti Case

Dakota James Wedgren | Hernando Sheriff | Arrests

Deputies said he admitted painting the graffiti to “blow off steam because he had been depressed lately.”

SPRING HILL – Hernando sheriff’s deputies have accused a Spring Hill teen of 18 incidents of graffiti.

Dakota James Wedgren, 18, of Spring Hill, was charged with eight counts of felony criminal mischief and 10 counts of misdemeanor criminal mischief.

Deputies said he admitted admitted to committing the offenses and demonstrated the specific graffiti sign that was used, saying the tag was supposed to look like the letters ME (referring to himself) and NY (referring to New York) where he moved from two months ago. Deputies said he admitted he painted the graffiti to “blow off steam because he had been depressed lately.”

Between March 28 and April 24, deputies said they were called to various locations in Spring Hill for complaints about graffiti that had been painted on both county-owned and private property.
During that time span, deputies documented 18 cases involving the same graffiti being painted on electrical boxes, traffic control boxes, utility boxes, U.S. Postal Service lockable mail boxes, street signs, dumpsters, vehicles, and doors and walls at businesses. Some locations were targeted up to three times, with graffiti appearing again after it had been removed.
previously).

Deputy John Fremer, a school resource officer at Powell Middle School, asked  students if they knew anything about the graffiti. Several students gave Fremer the name “Dakota.” Some
additional leads were developed by Fremer and then he turned the investigation over to detectives.

Deputies William Cooper and Eric Dunn found Wedgren at his home in the Spring Haven Apts. where he was taken into custody. Inside the apartment, deputies said they also found a large piece of cardboard with the same graffiti initials on it that were used in the criminal mischief cases. Deputies said they believe the cardboard was used as a practice canvas.

Graffiti | Hernando Sheriff | CrimeFor information about the Hernando sheriff, go to hernandosheriff.org.

Photos courtesy of the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.

Hernando Sheriff | Graffiti | Crime | Arrests | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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