For the third time in recent weeks, someone defaced the Courthouse on the Square with graffiti, according to a report made to Denton County sheriff's deputies Monday.
Someone used a marker to vandalize the building in 16 places, according to a county employee. The building is considered a historical monument, and defacing it is a felony offense.
Because the building and the property surrounding it are county property, it falls to sheriff's deputies to protect the courthouse, which is the site of commissioners' weekly meetings and a county museum.
In late May, deputies arrested a homeless man on charges that he used a marker to write obscenities on the courthouse and steps and sidewalks around it. Last week, someone defaced the area with nail polish and markers, according to reports.
In recent years, the area has become a popular gathering place for young people at night.
Other reports
3400 block of Woodthrush Street - A man called Denton police about 8:15 a.m. Monday to ask for an officer to meet him at his house. He said he was at work when his 12-year-old daughter called and said she believed someone had broken into the house and she could hear someone walking around.
The father and officers arrived at the house and found a man walking out the door. The father said the man was his wife's son, who had lived at the house but was thrown out after he committed a crime.
The son said he came to collect his belongings. Officers searched him and found a loaded pistol in his clothing, the report states.
The father said the pistol belonged to him and the son should not have it.
The officers found that a screen had been removed from a window and the son had used the window to get inside the house, the report states.
The son was charged with theft and taken to city jail.
4000 block Interstate 35 - An employee of a fast-food restaurant reported about 6:50 a.m. Monday that someone broke the lock on a door and entered the restaurant sometime after the business closed.
The safe had been opened and a bag of cash was missing, according to a police report.
This is at least the fourth recent break-in at the chain of restaurants, according to the report.
Roundup
From 7 a.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday:
• Denton police handled 248 service and officer-initiated calls, including reports of two burglaries, three cases of criminal mischief, one unlawful use of a motor vehicle, one assault, one fraud, two cases of credit card abuse, 14 thefts, one vehicle burglary, one narcotics call and two cases of lost property.
• Denton County sheriff's dispatchers handled 641 service and officer-initiated calls for the agencies they serve.
Forty-two people were booked into county jail. Deputies took reports of one theft, one criminal mischief incident, one burglary and one welfare concern.
• Denton firefighters responded to 13 medical calls, one alarm, three traffic accidents, one cooking fire, one public service request and one request to assist an invalid.
Argyle firefighters responded to one illegal burn.
Aubrey firefighters responded to one alarm, one medical call, one suicide attempt, one traffic accident and one request to unlock a vehicle.
Krum firefighters responded to one hazardous-materials incident and one medical call.
Lake Cities firefighters responded to one alarm, one grass fire, one unknown-type fire, one overdose, three medical calls, three traffic accidents and two requests to unlock a vehicle.
Oak Point firefighters responded to one attempted suicide.
Pilot Point firefighters responded to one medical call.
Sanger firefighters responded to one medical call, one hazardous-materials incident, three medical calls and one traffic accident.
DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com .
Denton County Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in these or other crimes. Callers will remain anonymous. Call 1-800-388-TIPS (8477). Reach the Denton police narcotics tip line at 940-565-5801.
