Clarksville Man Faces 42 Charges For Graffiti, Tire Punctures, Molotov Cocktails

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A 24-year-old Clarksville man is facing 42 charges for vandalism crimes committed within a mile of each other between April and December, according to Howard County police.

Taylor Richard Allen, of Linden Linthicum Lane, is facing 37 charges of destruction of property, two counts of using a destructive device, two counts of malicious burning and one count of committing a hate crime.

Police began investigating the cases as connected when officers observed similarities in the incidents, which were occurring during the overnight hours.

Over an eight-month period, they responded to multiple vandalism incidents on 15 different dates.

The cases had recently escalated and become more frequent in late November.

In many cases, the words "Rag Doll" and other graffiti, including swastikas in a few incidents, were painted or written on sidewalks, footpaths, playgrounds, mailboxes, cars and other property.

Since the spring, residents in the area have reported a total of 51 tires on 26 cars that were punctured in a similar fashion.

On two occasions, a homemade explosive device, known as a "Molotov Cocktail," was thrown onto a field at River Hill High School.

Police developed Allen as a possible suspect and conducted surveillance in the area. They spotted him on a footpath Wednesday morning around 3 a.m. and took him into custody.

Detectives say they have linked him to cases on each of the 15 dates on which the vandalism was committed. Police believe he acted alone.

Allen is being held at the Howard County Detention Center on $50,000 bond.

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