March 08, 2024
This afternoon seventeen-year-old Landon Payne was arrested by the Punta Gorda Police Department on two felony counts and six misdemeanor counts of Criminal Mischief, with the potential for additional charges to follow. For the last several months the police department has taken reports of graffiti that often included the word BESH painted on property throughout the city. We would like to thank everyone who responded to our request for information about these cases. The information received from our citizens was vital to resolving this serious quality of life issue. Early on in the course of these investigations, Chief Davis was adamant that this issue was a priority, vandalism would not be tolerated, and the suspect would be charged.