Second man faces charges after vandalism at new Bettendorf park

Another Bettendorf man faces charges after vandalism in a new Bettendorf park, according to Scott County arrest affidavits.

Michael Taylor, 19, of Bettendorf, faces a felony charge of explosive material or destructive devices with intent and an aggravated misdemeanor charge of third-degree arson, arrest affidavits show.

In court documents, police say that Taylor and co-defendant Trenton Runge walked to Kiwanis Park, 4223 Greenbrier Drive, “with the intent to light and explode a Molotov cocktail” shortly before 12:45 a.m. July 11.

Runge had an incendiary device while Taylor used his cell phone flashlight next to Runge. They “attempted to break the Molotov cocktail on the new futsal field” but were unsuccessful, affidavits show. They then lit the incendiary device in the grass and side wall of the futsal field, “causing the object to burn and leaving glass fragments in the grass and on the futsal field. The device burned the grass for approximately 10 minutes.”

Taylor, documents show, “admitted to being present and utilizing the flashlight on his phone for (Runge.)” Video surveillance shows the incident, police say.

Taylor was being held Saturday on $10,000 bond in Scott County Jail.

Earlier arrest and charges

Trenton Runge, 20, faces felony charges of use/possession of explosive material/destructive device; aggravated misdemeanor charges of third-degree arson and third-degree criminal mischief; and a serious misdemeanor charge of possession of controlled substance – marijuana – first offense, according to Scott County Court arrest affidavits.

Shortly before 12:45 a.m. July 11, Runge and another person entered Kiwanis Park, 4223 Greenbrier, Bettendorf, after hours, police say in affidavits.

Officers say Runge lit “an incendiary device being a glass jar containing flammable liquid with a rag on fire (also known as a Molotov cocktail).” Runge tried to destroy the device on the new futsal park by throwing it to the ground, but the device did not shatter. He then destroyed it on the ground, lighting grass on fire and burning parts of the futsal field, according to affidavits.

About 4:30 a.m., a group of four people entered Kiwanis Park after hours and Runge used red spray paint “to graffiti the basketball court hoop back board of the new futsal field, the park signs, and the park shelter walls,” spray-painting his initials and the word “anarchy” on those areas, according to court records, which say the estimated damage caused by the graffiti is $1,000.

About 4:36 a.m., a second incendiary device was thrown at Kiwanis Park near the tennis courts, causing the grass to burn and glass shattered on the pavement and grass, officers say in affidavits.

Through investigation, officers were able to identify Runge as the “primary offender” who resides with a co-defendant and other people near the park, affidavits say.

After he was read his Miranda Rights, Runge admitted to spray-painting the park and denied involvement in the incendiary fires, but “During a consent search, officers located a bottle with a small amount of chemical liquid (accelerant) and a rag/washcloth hidden in the ceiling tiles of the room next to (Runge’s) primary bedroom. In a bedroom closet, officers located two used cans of red spray paint.”

Officers also located one gram of marijuana and marijuana pipes, which Runge admitted he owned, according to affidavits.

Runge is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 4 in Scott County Court.

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