Arrest made in $10k tire slashings – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2019-07-17

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Arrest made in $10k tire slashings By Nick Morgan of the Mail Tribune Jul 17, 2019 05:15 PM A A Police arrested a man Tuesday for allegedly puncturing 113 tires on 56 vehicles in and around Phoenix last weekend, and a Phoenix city councilor has organized a Gofundme campaign to help the vandalism victims. Travis Wayne Fullmer, 41, faces charges of criminal mischief and third-degree theft accusing him of causing more than $10,000 worth of damage to dozens of vehicles inside Phoenix city limits, and nearly a dozen vehicles outside city limits, according to documents filed in Jackson County Circuit Court. Court documents filed by Phoenix police say the vandalisms cost Phoenix victims at least $10,743 for repairs and replacement, but 22 victims had not yet submitted damage estimates to police as of Tuesday afternoon. Jackson County sheriff’s deputies estimated that $3,500 worth of damage was caused to 10 vehicles that were parked in county jurisdiction outside the city, on North Phoenix Road and South Pacific Highway. Multiple tips and clues led to Fullmer’s arrest, according to police. One person gave Phoenix police video surveillance of a suspect fitting Fullmer’s description walking into the Phoenix post office parking lot just after 1:30 a.m. Sunday. The surveillance video allegedly showed Fullmer puncturing several tires, setting his beer can down, cutting the flag off a pole, then puncturing more tires. One witness — whose tires were among those that were slashed — provided police a first name after spotting Fulmer at a Circle K mini mart after 2 a.m. At about 2:24 a.m., Fullmer allegedly asked a Circle K convenience store clerk for alcohol wipes to treat a cut on his finger, according to video surveillance at the store. The Jackson County Scanner Facebook Group relayed an anonymous email tip about a man who was at Barkley’s Tavern late Saturday night, according to Phoenix police. The tipster told police they saw a man sharpening an icepick and said he was “acting strange.” Jackson County sheriff’s deputies also charged Fulmer with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, accusing him of stealing a 1988 Toyota pickup from a repair shop in the same area as the tire slashings. Fullmer made his initial appearance Wednesday in Jackson County Circuit Court. As of Wednesday evening, he remained held on $92,500 bail. Phoenix City Councilor Sarah Westover started a Gofundme campaign Monday for victims of the tire slashings. As of Wednesday afternoon, the campaign had raised $1,466 toward a $6,500 goal. For details, see gofundme.com/support-for-phoenix-tire-slashing-victims . Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter @ MTCrimeBeat . Dozens of vehicles in and around Phoenix had their tires punctured early Sunday morning. Jamie Lusch / Mail Tribune Tire slashing suspect.jpg