Graffiti artist draws attention of Cape police

An office building for cardiovascular surgeons on Broadway bears unwanted colorful words and images, and teachers arrived for vacation Bible school several weeks ago to find profanity spray-painted on a local school building.

Over the past two months, nearly a dozen such reports of offensive graffiti have landed on the desk of Cape Girardeau Police Department detective Brent Steger.

"At this point, we don't know who it is," Steger said. "It's clear that somebody has talent. It's not the first time they've used a can of spray paint."

Words such as "ebonics," "raw politics," "jinks," and "funk smokin'," have appeared randomly in a rainbow of colors and intricate letters on buildings, vehicles and trash bins in the north and northwest areas of the city since May.

The phrases are often accompanied by elaborate paintings -- a 7-foot-by-20-foot image of a man playing a guitar has been sprayed on a wall of Orthopaedic Associates of Southeast Missouri in Doctors' Park.

The common link between each incident is the number "196," which has been painted at each site. Steger is working to find out the significance of the number.

"We're stumped at this point. No one seems to know what '196' means," he said.

A neon guitar, musical notes and obscenities appeared on a wall facing the playground at St. Vincent de Paul Grade School June 17, and it cost the school $800 to have it removed.

"It was a rude awakening. We've never had something like that happen to our school," Heberlie said. "It's especially disheartening for schools, because it's difficult to find money to fix it."

The graffiti at Cardiovascular Surgeons of Southeast Missouri, which includes the words "jinks," "raw" and profanity, was painted around May 30. The paint has not yet been removed from the building.

"It's very obvious and offensive, especially to the other businesses around here," said Rhonda Weber, secretary. "But I know we're not the only one who has been targeted."

Steger believes the graffiti is the work of at least two people -- at least one to paint and one or more to stand watch -- but there is nothing to indicate who may be responsible.

The police department did arrest a juvenile in conjunction with an outbreak of graffiti that occurred last fall. The graffiti targeted a similar area of Cape Girardeau and carried the trademark signature "solo." The new graffiti contains profanity directed against solo.

"After that arrest was made, the problem stopped. Now someone is coming back and seems to be retaliating against solo," Steger said.

Steger said property owners who incurred damage should report it to the police department, and asked that anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 332-0500. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128