BY ART BUKOWSKI
abukowski@record-eagle.com
May 07, 2009 06:55 am TRAVERSE CITY -- Authorities issued multiple criminal charges against a man suspected of using a BB gun to shoot several windows and homes in the Kingsley area. Brian Jerald Riley, 23, is charged with breaking and entering a building with intent, malicious destruction of property between $1,000 and $20,000 and malicious destruction of a building between $1,000 and $20,000. Police believe Riley damaged house and vehicle windows, vinyl siding, garage doors and other items sometime overnight April 4. About 25 people reported damage, court records show. Riley allegedly told a Grand Traverse sheriff's deputy he and two others broke into a maple syrup shack owned by his uncle and stole syrup, records show. The three then left the shack and drove around shooting out windows, Riley allegedly said. Riley's uncle, who also had a window shot out, previously told police his nephew may have been responsible. A 6-foot by 4-foot front window at Kingsley Lumber on Brownson Avenue was shot multiple times and will have to be replaced, owner Jerry Send said. He's happy to hear of charges. "If the guy did it, then he should be prosecuted," Send said. Send plans to seek restitution to cover his window replacement costs. "It's his responsibility; it should be coming out of his pocket, I would think," he said. The Kingsley spree came on the heels of a similar spate of shootings in the Traverse City area. Three teens caused about $50,000 in damage as they drove in and around the city in December and shot windows with BB guns. They eventually were caught when an area resident saw them and provided a vehicle description to police, who later spotted and stopped their vehicle. Two teens, Kyle Leiter and Stephen Pina, pleaded guilty to criminal charges, and Tyler Briegel is being processed in juvenile court. Authorities said the three will be responsible for thousands of dollars in restitution. Riley, of Kingsley, hadn't been arrested Wednesday morning.
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