Kent Graffiti "tagger," 18, caught and released Akron man arrested Sunday, charged with spray painting, trying to elude police

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By Dave O"Brien

Record-Courier staff writer

Talk about wet paint.

An Akron man caught "tagging" a concrete wall Sunday with graffiti by Kent police fled their approach, right into the icy clutches of the Cuyahoga River.

All that Nicholas B. Hall, 18, got for his trouble was wet -- and some additional charges for resisting arrest -- as he took a plunge in an attempt to flee officers trying to arrest him for trespassing and graffiti-related charges.

According to a police report of the incident, officers responded shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday to a report of a subject spray painting graffiti on a wall behind 152 Franklin Ave., near the CSX Railroad tracks on the east bank of the river.

Police said an officer instructed Hall not to move. Instead, Hall jumped in the river, according to the police report. He did not get far, and was soon fished out of the river.

The Kent Fire Department was called to treat Hall, who apparently struck his head during his flight, according to police. He refused treatment at the scene and was booked at the Kent Police Department.

Hall was charged with resisting arrest and obstructing official business, both first-degree misdemeanors; graffiti prohibited, a third-degree misdemeanor; and trespassing, a fourth-degree misdemeanor; according to police.

He was arraigned Monday morning before Judge Barbara Oswick in Portage County Municipal Court in Kent, where he posted 10 percent of $3,500 bond on the charge of resisting arrest and signed a personal recognizance bond on the graffiti charge, according to court records.

A second court date is to be set.