PANAMA CITY — Police have arrested a man they believe is responsible for a spree of costly property crimes in St. Andrews earlier this month.
Nearly a dozen St. Andrews residents woke up Aug. 11 to find their tires slashed or cars spray-painted. Police investigated for several days without developing a suspect because there was no apparent connection between the victims, former Panama City Police spokesman Lt. Robert Luther said a few days later.
Tires on West 12th Street were slashed on several vehicles. A few blocks away on Hickory Avenue, two vehicles were spray-painted with yellow paint, as was a moving van a few blocks north on 15th Street.
At least eight vehicles at seven addresses had tires cut, along with the three that were painted. The damages totaled nearly $6,500.
Mark Alvardo, 37, of West 12th Court, is in the Bay County Jail on several felony counts of criminal mischief. He was arrested Sunday and charged with three counts, and detectives leveled an additional seven counts Tuesday. His bonds total $12,000.
Alvardo was identified as a suspect based on surveillance video footage and accounts of witnesses to a fight on Aug. 11, according to Detective John Wray with PCPD. Alvardo was in a fight and upset with the outcome, so he allegedly set out on a vandalism spree between Beck Avenue and his home.
Like Hansel and Gretel, Alvardo left a figurative trail of breadcrumbs for investigators to follow.
“They all lead right to his house,” Wray said.
In addition to the vehicles he’s accused of spray-painting, police found a building painted and a utility box with a painting of a foot.
Why a foot?
Wray said he’s given up trying to figure that one out.
“I still don’t know the significance of the foot,” he said.
There are other victims who haven’t been in touch with Wray yet, he said, so additional charges against Alvardo are possible. Anyone with information or who believes they are a victim should contact Wray at 872-3112.