OTHELLO — An Othello man was booked on suspicion of second-degree malicious mischief after he allegedly sprayed graffiti on a fence near South Cobblestone Avenue Sunday.  

Nestor Romero-Morales, 21, was arrested in connection with an incident that occurred at about 6 p.m., said Othello Police Chief Brent McFarlane in a media release. In a separate interview, McFarlane said the graffiti may have a connection to gang activity. 

Officers received a report of a man painting the fence in the 900 block of South Cobblestone. When they responded, they found about 30 feet of fence vandalized with yellow spray paint. 

“While checking the surrounding area, officers contacted a male approximately one block from the damaged property,” McFarlane said. “The individual was identified as Romero-Morales. During the investigation, officers recovered a can of yellow spray paint, and a witness identified Romero-Morales as the individual they observed spray-painting the fence.” 

The OPD and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office arrested suspects Thursday in two separate graffiti incidents near Taggares Park. McFarlane said the three incidents do not appear to be connected. 

McFarlane said there’s not a clear motivation for three graffiti incidents in three days. 

“There’s no logical reason that I can come up with,” he said.  

McFarlane said the department was grateful to the residents who reported the incident and helped with the investigation.  

“Community involvement and timely reporting continue to play an important role in protecting our neighborhoods and property,” he said. 

That gives OPD a better chance of apprehending suspects. 

“We are catching them,” McFarland said.