By Paul Bird
paul.bird@indystar.com
March 31, 2005

Restitution will be sought from juveniles suspected of firing paintballs at homes and vehicles in White River Township neighborhoods.

"There were three homes where the paintballs made holes in vinyl siding and one damaged by paint residue -- the owner can't get it off," said Johnson County sheriff's Detective Sgt. Robert Sexton, who is investigating the incidents.

How much it would cost to repair damaged homes will depend on whether a single plank of siding is replaced or an entire area of siding must be replaced, Sexton said.

"Getting one plank to match the existing color may be a problem," Sexton said.

Two 16-year-old boys were arrested Monday night after being followed from a Critchfield subdivision home that had been blasted with paintballs. Critchfield is west of Ind. 135 and Curry Road.

One of the boys told Sexton that he had shot "two or three houses" and a street sign.

"He also told me that on Friday night, he was out by himself shooting paintballs at houses and that he shot between 15 and 20 homes."

The boy said he liked playing with the guns and "just took it to the next level," Sexton said.

A paintball gun fires 5/8-inch balls filled with paint at a speed of 250 to 300 feet per second. The balls explode upon impact with a firm surface.

Neighborhoods involved include homes in Highland Park, Pebble Hills, Carefree North and Willow Lakes.

The case will remain in the juvenile system, and other suspects are being sought.

Sexton urged homeowners with permanent damage to file a police report. Ten reports have been filed.

"I am sure there are many more cases that police reports were not made," Sexton said Thursday. "I got two new reports today."

Source: http://www.indystar.com/articles/4/233384-5184-102.html