Amsterdam man arrested for allegedly spray painting bridge

PHOTOGRAPHER: State Police

Jonaiker L. Berrios

Amsterdam Police have arrested a city man for spray painting graffiti on the north end of the Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook pedestrian bridge earlier in May.

Jonaiker L. Berrios, 18, of 43 John St. was arrested this week and charged with “making graffiti,” a misdemeanor.

Police said the investigation began the evening of May 9 when the department was contacted by an Amsterdam citizen who reported seeing people walking on the ramp of the north side of the pedestrian bridge. Patrol officers were able to intercept the group, but no evidence of mischief was found at the time.

On May 12, however, the bridge construction crew discovered and reported pink spray paint on the south side of the ramp facing the Mohawk River, police said.

“Armed with the eye witness account and surveillance footage from the newly installed cameras at RiverLink Park, officers were able to identify suspect Berrios and bring him in for questioning,” according to a statement from police. “Once presented with the evidence, Berrios admitted to being the party who spray painted the ramp along with other areas of the RiverLink Park,” the statement continued.

It is not clear what Berrios allegedly spray painted on the bridge. Work crews removed the graffiti by Thursday afternoon when The Daily Gazette visited the site. But remnants of pink spray paint could be seen in the masonry between the stones on the walkway leading to the pedestrian bridge.

A construction worker on site Thursday said the graffiti was unintelligible and only about two square feet in size.

A spokesman for the State Canal Corporation, the agency overseeing the construction, said the incident will not affect the project’s opening date, which is slated for Labor Day.

“It’s a sad thing that people would want to graffiti the bridge; this is the second time it’s been tagged,” said spokesman Shane Mahar. “But it won’t delay the completion of the bridge, we’re still on schedule.”

Police said Berrios was released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled to return to Amsterdam City Court at a later date.

Reach Gazette reporter Dan Fitzsimmons at 852-9605, [email protected] or @DanFitzsimmons on Twitter.