Man arrested in connection with vandalism at Texas congressman's office in Georgetown
GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) -- A man in his 20s was arrested and charged in connection with vandalism that occurred at Texas Congressman John Carter's office in Georgetown last month, according to the Georgetown Police Department.
In late April, the Williamson County Sheriff's Office asked the public for help identifying suspects in three criminal mischief incidents in Georgetown. The sheriff’s office said the suspects were connected to vandalism at Rep. Carter’s office and other criminal mischief at the Republican party headquarters and Williamson County Courthouse in Georgetown.
Georgetown police on Thursday said they arrested Reiss Funicelli, 26, for graffiti. He was arrested at his residence in Salado, Texas without incident and booked into the Bell County Jail, according to GPD.
It's unclear whether or not law enforcement authorities are still looking for the two other previously mentioned suspects in connection to the incidents. The Georgetown Police Department said it had not identified any other suspects as of Monday, May 20.
KXAN has reached out to Bell County for Funicelli's attorney information, and the county said it did not appoint one to represent him. We will continue to reach out until attorney information can be found.
The police department said in a release the arrest was made possible through detectives following "multiple small pieces of information to build a substantial list of potential leads and possible suspect(s)."
The police department said detectives looked at video surveillance footage from around the Williamson County Courthouse and Rep. Carter's office, as well as arrest records from the Travis County Sheriff's Office, and they were able to obtain an arrest warrant for Funicelli. Additional information from cell phone records helped place Funicelli at Carter's office at the time of the incident, the department added.
“I applaud the Georgetown Police Department for their hard work in investigating, identifying, and arresting Reiss Funicelli as the suspect allegedly responsible for the vandalism at my Georgetown office in April. From the moment my staff called police to report the damage, GPD has been professional, thorough, and committed to finding the individual responsible. As a former judge, I trust that the court system will take it from here and the suspect will face appropriate consequences for his alleged actions.”
Congressman John Carter