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http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_2927398
Article Launched: 08/10/2005 03:47:54 AM
Air Force officer admits DIA vandalism By Chip Yost and Nicole Vap
A lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force has admitted to vandalizing cars bearing pro-President Bush bumper stickers at Denver International Airport.
Denver police say he's responsible for thousands of dollars in damage to at least 12 cars.
Lt. Col. Alexis Fecteau, 42, of Colorado Springs turned himself in to Denver police Friday.
He is director of reserve operations at the National Security Space Institute in Colorado Springs, in charge of more than 40 full-time and traditional reservists.
In the arrest affidavit, police say that after they conducted a sting operation, Fecteau admitted to damaging several cars.
"It was pretty good police work," said Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson. "You still have a right to express yourself in this country, and you shouldn't have your car vandalized because of it."
Jackson said that in late June, a detective parked a bait car adorned with a Bush-Cheney 2004 bumper sticker in the west economy lot at DIA. On July 1, a security camera recorded a man spray-painting something on the car. The bumper sticker was painted over, and the words "(expletive) Bush" were spray-painted on the side of the car.
Police traced the license plate of a sport utility vehicle linked to the bait- car vandalism to Fecteau and impounded the SUV at DIA.
When Fecteau tried to retrieve his car, detectives confronted him. He admitted the vandalism and said he had started damaging vehicles about the time of the presidential election last year, according to the arrest affidavit.
Fecteau told investigators he didn't mean the graffiti to be a threat against Bush. He said he scratched the same kind of graffiti into "a couple of cars" with his keys, according to the affidavit.
Inside Fecteau's 2001 Ford Excursion, police found a tube of Park Tube Polylube, a grease used for bicycle repairs; a spray can of Klean Strip Auto Strip paint thinner; and Krylon Textured Shimmer paint.
Fecteau faces one count of felony criminal mischief and at least five misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief. He posted a $5,000 bond and is due in court this month.
Maj. Tina Barber-Matthew, an Air Force spokeswoman, said the service hasn't taken action against Fecteau as the case is going through local law enforcement. Calls to Fecteau's work and home were not returned.