Romando Dixson

rdixson@citizen-times.com

ASHEVILLE – City police cited an Asheville teenager for damage to property after they said he was spraying graffiti near the WNC Nature Center and Walmart in East Asheville, Sgt. Dave Romick said.

Alexander Fishel, 18, of Asheville, was charged with defacing a public building, according to court records. He is scheduled to appear in court in May.

It is the third graffiti-related charge city police have announced in about two weeks. In early March, police said they had made only two graffiti vandalism arrests through Feb. 26.

Police increased patrols earlier this year in response to numerous reports of tagging in West Asheville and other neighborhoods.

The city has spent tens of thousands of dollars this fiscal year removing and covering up graffiti on city-owned property, city spokesman Brian Postelle said last month. City employees are working with business owners and community leaders to address the graffiti vandalism problem, Romick said.

Police say the most important thing to do when when observing someone tagging or damaging property is to report it immediately. Vandalism can be reported to the Asheville Police Department number at 252-1110 or Buncombe County Crime Stoppers at 255-5050.