By MARK TODD
Staff Writer
mtodd@starbeacon.com
CONNEAUT - - A snowboarder interested in practicing technique apparently helped himself to some of the equipment at Conneaut's municipal skate park Monday, police said.
John Titus, 19, 284 Jefferson St., was charged with theft and trespassing, according to a Conneaut Municipal Court spokeswoman. Titus pleaded not guilty to the theft charge, and a pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 20, the spokeswoman said.
Titus pleaded guilty to the trespassing charge, and sentencing will be done at the pre-trial. The theft charge is a first-degree misdemeanor and carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and $1,000 fine.
Police said a pedestrian saw someone inside the park, at the east end of Jefferson Street, shortly after midnight on Tuesday. The intruder appeared to be tossing a piece of steel over the park fence, officers said.
The man quickly left when he noticed he was being observed, the witness told police.
Officers at the scene discovered one piece of skate park equipment, known as a rail, had been unbolted and removed. Following footprints in the snow, officers eventually located the equipment behind Titus' house, a short distance from the park, police said.
Confronted by officers, Titus admitted taking the equipment, according to a police report.
Conneaut Police Chief Jon Arcaro said he understood Titus liked to snowboard and wanted the equipment to practice his moves. Arcaro praised the officers who tracked the suspect.
"They did a good job," he said.
The theft marks the first time someone took equipment from the park since the facility opened in 2003, said Bob Howland, assistant Public Works Department director. "We've had some vandalism, but nothing has been stolen," he said.
The rail was firmly secured to it's base, Howland said. "(The culprit) spent some time unbolting it," he said.
Star Beacon Print Edition: 1/31/2007
