Charges held against man connected to vandalism of Pullman building
Charges were held against a Butler man accused of vandalizing the Pullman Standard building last month following a preliminary hearing Monday, April 1.
Matthew J. Wade, 21, was charged with felonies criminal mischief and criminal trespassing Feb. 20 alongside two juveniles. The two male juveniles were not named in court documents.
Wade appeared Monday before District Judge William Fullerton and heard testimony from contractor Robert Hays, who said he found CO2 cartridges for an air gun and evidence of vandalism at the Hansen Avenue building the morning of Feb. 20.
Hays said he noticed an interior antique railing was missing adornments and windows were broken the night before. After notifying police, he decided to hold a stakeout that night and see if the vandals returned.
“Five after eight, I heard the smashing,” he said, referencing the windows which were discovered damaged. Later, Hays said he also discovered the security cameras had been broken.
After calling 911, Hays said he approached the building and saw people smashing windows on several floors. Hays said he watched three males exit the building. The men eventually were apprehended by a police officer.
Hays said he estimated upward of 70 windows were broken in the building between on Feb. 19 and Feb. 20. The damage to the windows and railing is estimated at$76,000.
City police officer Nathan Shulik testified that he arrived on scene just as his partner apprehended the three men exiting the Pullman building. Wade was identified among them, and was found with a small metal mallet and pump-action BB gun.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Matthew Ness asked Shulik if he was in possession of the CO2 cartridges Hays found, to which Shulik said he was not.
Fullerton moved all charges forward to the Court of Common Pleas following the proceedings.
