In a recent incident, Joe Charles Woodson, 19, from Conway, and Ariel Laken Brown, 20, from Benton, alongside other local teenagers, find themselves confronting serious charges of felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor criminal trespass. The charges stem from their involvement in vandalizing the Spring Park restrooms and amphitheater on December 26. Additionally, Woodson faces theft of property charges for shoplifting the spray paint used in the vandalism from Heber Springs Walmart.
The arrest affidavit reveals that the Spring Park restrooms had undergone recent repainting following a prior act of vandalism. On December 26, both bathrooms were targeted with spray-painted graffiti, bearing the moniker “Tripp,” identified as Woodson’s nickname, and featuring a gold smiley face. The fenced-off amphitheater suffered a kicked-in door, with walls adorned with the message “Skate or die.” Sharpie marker drawings appeared on several electrical panels and one door, accompanied by defaced signs and additional graffiti on the playground.
Parks employees, reviewing security camera footage, successfully identified a shaggy-haired young man and four to five teenage girls entering the bathrooms on the night of the incident. This same group had been observed around Christmas day before the initial act of damage and was spotted again on the night the restrooms were repainted. They were the sole group entering the bathrooms that night until park workers discovered the new damage at 7:30 a.m. Local law enforcement later identified two of the girls.
Two days later, members of the Heber Springs Police Department, during an interaction with skateboarders, spotted Brown and Woodson walking on Main Street. The apprehension of the two individuals occurred without incident.
Brown’s bond has been set at $2,500, while Woodson’s bond is set at $7,500.
The father of the two teenage girls identified on surveillance video, who were present with Brown and Woodson at the park, brought the teens in for questioning, statement filling, and provided the police with a backpack containing the shoplifted spray paint.
The Heber Springs Parks Department estimates the expense of repairing the vandalism at the park to be $1,364. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance and collaboration to uphold public spaces.
