On the homepage
Afghanistan
Out There
Music
Television
Home | Politically Connected | National Politics | Political Conventions
Fridley man is charged with smashing window, kicking car
Police sought the public's help in finding the vandal, who was photographed at an RNC protest in St. Paul on Sept. 1. He faces a felony count of criminal damage to property.
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on DiggMore from Political Conventions
A man allegedly photographed Sept. 1 smashing a plate-glass window at the First National Bank Building and kicking the rear of a squad car in downtown St. Paul has been charged with criminal damage to property, a felony.
Jason A. Sparks, 23, of Fridley was charged Friday in Ramsey County District Court. He was arrested Sunday night after police asked for the public's help in finding him, and he made his first court appearance Monday. His next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 22.
According to the criminal complaint, Sparks was part of a group of protesters at the Republican National Convention who left the established parade route and damaged public and private property as the members "descended into St. Paul."
One member of the group was photographed smashing the bank window at 4th and Robert Streets and later kicking the squad car. Although the man was wearing a bandana over his face, two people called police and identified him as Sparks after the photographs were published in the media, the complaint said. Sparks also was photographed without the bandana at the State Capitol grounds before the vandalism.
The complaint said the windows broken in the First National Bank Building will cost more than $17,000 to replace.
Sparks is being held in the Ramsey County jail in lieu of $15,000 bail.
PAT PHEIFER
Recent Political Conventions stories
The Whistleblower blog has moved
The Star Tribune is still blowing the whistle, but our look and location have changed. Click here to get to the new blog. If you want the actual URL, it’s www.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower.html. Our blog posts will now be easier to search on the web site, but you’ll need to register to post a comment. In the [...]
Recent posts
  1000s of HomesListings, open houses, the hottest market news. Start and end your search for a new home here. |
Win tickets to The Midnight Movie Society's screening of "Clue" at Red Stag Supperclub.Vita.mn and DJ Jake Rudh present the first meeting of The Midnight Movie Society at Red Stag Supperclub on Dec. 4, with drinking, dancing and a midnight screening of cult-classic film, "Clue." |
