Photo courtesy of Worthington Police Department

An investigation by the Worthington Police Department has resulted in a charge filed against a Linton man suspected of breaking the glass in the windows and doors of the Community Building in the Worthington Park last weekend. The suspect is already in jail. He was arrested last Saturday morning in Linton.

WPD Deputy Marshal Russell Walls began his investigation last Saturday morning, October 19, when he was advised of vandalism in the Worthington Park. When he arrived on the scene, he saw the glass was broken out of four windows and three doors of the Community Building with one rock inside after being thrown through a window and another rock still stuck in another one of the windows.

The Community Building, the largest building in the Worthington Park, located on the west edge of the park, is used by the town, by individuals and by organizations for both public and private events.

Officer Walls contacted a member of the Worthington Park Board and was able to obtain video from the surveillance system that recorded the incident. Walls reported the video showed a man walking in front of the building, stopping in front of each window and door, throwing a rock, then moving on to the next to do the same until the glass in all of the windows and doors was broken.

The suspect was wearing a red shirt with white writing that said “Aeropostale 1987,” blue jeans with a white design on the back pockets and tennis shoes.

Walls said he was not familiar with the suspect in the video so he posted some photos from the surveillance footage on Facebook and he reached out to other officers in the county.

A suspect was quickly identified when Assistant Chief Debbie McDonald of the Linton Police Department contacted Officer Walls and explained she had been dealing with the suspect earlier Saturday morning. She was dispatched about a domestic around 7 a.m. then again around 8 a.m.

Ryan Jacob Major, 23, of Linton, was arrested by Officer McDonald as a result of her investigation into the domestic battery that occurred that morning. Major was transported and booked into the Greene County Jail around 10:30 a.m.

According to Officer Walls, Officer McDonald said she was told Major had been to a party in Worthington on Friday night at the home of a family member about a block from the Worthington Park. Major reportedly had cuts on his arm and when he was taken into custody, he had a rock in his pocket, with blood on it. Officer McDonald also confirmed that Major was wearing blue jeans that matched the description.

The first story about the vandalism incident was posted on GreeneStreets last Saturday and a story about the arrest of Major by Officer McDonald was posted on GreeneStreets last Monday. Find the previous stories by clicking on the tag “Ryan Jacob Major” at the bottom of this story.

In addition to the lead provided by Officer McDonald, Walls said Deputy Marshal Wayman JR Blazier of the Bloomfield Police Department also contacted him with another lead. Officer Blazier was contacted by an anonymous person who provided pictures of Major wearing the same outfit, the red shirt with white writing and the blue jeans. The photos had been posted somewhere on Facebook.

Walls then talked to the Worthington resident where Major had been visiting and they confirmed that Major had been there and had left by himself at some point during the night.

When Walls interviewed Major at the sheriff’s department, he allegedly confirmed he was at the residence in Worthington that night but he did not recall being at the Worthington Park and did not remember events of the night due to being intoxicated.

Major appeared in Greene Superior Court on Tuesday for his initial hearing in the domestic case. He was charged with domestic battery as a Level 5 felony and a public defender was appointed. On Wednesday, the defense filed a motion for his bond to be reduced. On Thursday, Judge Dena Martin denied the bond reduction.

Today, Friday, October 25, with the information from Officer Walls into the vandalism, the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office filed a criminal case against Major on a preliminary charge of criminal mischief – involving damage that resulted in a substantial interruption to a public service, a Level 6 felony.

Officer Walls reported the cost to repair the doors and windows in the Community Building is estimated at $1,889.80, not including the cost to repair damage to the floor and some drywall and not including the loss of rental fees for approximately two weeks while the damage is repaired.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of Major, but he did not post bond in the first case and as of Friday evening, he was still in jail. The warrant will be served and Major will be scheduled to appear in court for another initial hearing.