Marion police probe 68 tire slashings

MARION – Marion police were investigating reports of the slashing of tires on 68 vehicles on Saturday morning, police Lt. Ed Brown said.

Police received the first report at 5:50 a.m. from a discovery of tires cut on a vehicle on Superior Street, Brown said.

"It goes literally from the south to the north," he said. "It went from 250 N. Main (St.) all the way down to Superior Street. He estimated the cost of the damage to be about $6,800. The damaged vehicles were located on streets and in parking lots.

"We're still investigating, and we're still working it," he said, adding one witness may have seen a person suspected to be involved. "Hopefully, this pans out and we can develop some suspects."

A trail of blood was discovered where the tires were slashed leading police to believe a suspect may have been hurt, according to 10TV.

He said a series of tire slashings as large as Saturday's has happened before, but not recently.

Anyone who has information about the crime is asked to contact the police department at 740-387-2525 or leave an anonymous tip by contacting the TIPS line at 740-375-TIPS (8477).