MANSFIELD, Ohio–William Lambert, 28, Mansfield was arrested at 2:13 a.m. Sunday after a 911 caller reported a man, dressed in what appeared to be a hooded sweatshirt, attempting to gain entry to the coin machines at the Grace Street carwash, 976 Grace St.
The 911 caller maintained phone contact with dispatch and advised that the suspect was in the carwash bay. When Richland County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Myers arrived, he could see that the coin machine had been damaged and a spud bar and sledge hammer were lying on the ground. The masonry around the machine was broken and siding had been removed from the wall.
Myers found Lambert hiding in the carwash bay and ordered him to lay on the ground as he was handcuffed. Lambert said he had only just arrived and saw some youths running away from the scene when he arrived.
He denied any involvement in the incident. Two more deputies arrived and the suspect was placed in the rear of a patrol car.
In processing the scene, a pipe was found inside the bay where the Lambert had been standing. Other items were collected from the suspect’s person including a credit card bearing a woman’s name, a bag of drug abuse paraphernalia, a scanner, a smartphone, an iPod, headphones, a state ID, and a prison ID.
When the carwash owner arrived, he estimated the damages at approximately $6,000.
Lambert was issued summones and advised that felony charges were filed for felony vandalism and possession of criminal tools. He was also charged for misdemeanor possession of drug abuse instruments and criminal damaging.