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PARK CITY — Police say they have identified the man they believe is responsible for vandalizing Banksy murals in Park City a month ago.
The vandalizing of two Banksy murals on Park City’s Main Street was reported Dec. 31 to Park City police. Someone had broken the glass encasing a stenciling of an angel outside Java Cow Cafe and Bakery, 402 Main, and painted over the image. The Plexiglas covering a stenciling of a cameraman on the wall of a parking garage had been struck as well, but was only cracked.
The two pieces appeared during 2010’s Sundance Film Festival, coinciding with the release of a film Banksy directed called "Exit Through the Gift Shop." Banksy is an anonymous street artist from the United Kingdom. He is known for his political, satirical and sometimes humorous street art.
Tuesday, Park City police said they believe a California man who has previously vandalized other Banksy works may be responsible in this case. Police will not identify him until they have obtained a warrant, Capt. Rick Ryan of the Park City Police Department said.
Police were able to learn his identity through videos showing him vandalizing the Park City works, according to Ryan. Another video showed the man talking to a police officer, who Park City police were able to contact and work with, he said.
Ryan said the man is currently in custody in Los Angeles for unrelated criminal mischief charges. Police are working to obtain a warrant for his arrest on felony criminal mischief charges and to extradite him to Utah.
