A Des Moines teenager with a loaded handgun was arrested Thursday night after impressing his initials into fresh concrete at the Jordan Creek mall.
Jaden Michael Graham, 18, of 1521 E. 17th Court, Des Moines, was charged with second-degree criminal mischief and interference with official acts.
The incident began about 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the 100 block of Jordan Creek Parkway, where Graham allegedly “ran from officers” of the West Des Moines Police Department “while in possession of a firearm and tobacco,” according to court records.
Graham ran from law enforcement after he allegedly “used a stick to deface newly poured concrete” and “wrote the letters ‘JG’ into the concrete,” according to court records.
The officers pursued Graham after he was “observed via video surveillance defacing the property,” according to court records. The officers yelled, “Police!” and “Stop!” but Graham “continued to run for several blocks.”
When the officers detained Graham, he was “in possession of a Smith and Wesson handgun” with “one round in the chamber and a total of 29 rounds in the firearm,” according to court records.
Graham allegedly “continued to resist after being located by officers” and “continued to attempt to slip his handcuffs.”
The company that laid the concrete estimated the damage at $2,500.
Graham is held in the Dallas County Jail on a $10,000 cash or surety bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 22 in Dallas County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
