PITTSBURGH — Two men who police said were protesting evictions have been arrested for vandalizing local magisterial district judge offices.
Jacob Klinger, 27, of Stanton Heights and Brandon Orozco, 31, of Lawrenceville, were charged in connection with the Nov. 12 incidents.
Allegheny County Sheriff’s deputies said the damaged offices included Judge Bruce Boni in McKees Rocks; Judge Thomas Caulfield in Forest Hills and Judge Ralph Kaiser in Baldwin. At each office, the suspects sealed the entryway doors with spray foam insulation and the keyholes were filled with an epoxy-type glue.
In addition to the damage, there were signs posted stating, “evictions are violence”. The two offices that have double door entryways, Baldwin and Forest Hills, were locked with a U-shaped bicycle lock as well.
Due to the vandalism, all court cases had to be postponed. The total cost for repairs was more than $2,000, deputies said.
Later that same week, Baldwin Borough Police received information which led to Orozco, Klinger and a third suspect, Kevin Kiley, 26, of Munhall. Kiley was arrested and charged on Nov. 13.
Police determined that Klinger was the coordinator of the vandalism crimes.
Originally, the three planned to protest evictions in front of magistrate’s offices, but soon realized they did not have enough volunteers. They decided to vandalize the offices instead, as well as Judge Richard King’s office in Carrick. However, they were nearly caught by police while vandalizing Judge Kaiser’s office in Baldwin, so they abandoned plans to vandalize King’s office.
On Nov. 24, search warrants were executed at Orozco and Klinger’s homes, as well as Klinger’s vehicle and bedroom safe.
Officers found four cans of Great Stuff foam insulation, a spray application nozzle, two containers of JB Weld Plastic Bonder, and three Loctite Threadlocker Red 271.
All three men are being charged with obstructing administration of law or other government function, institutional vandalism, criminal conspiracy, and criminal mischief.
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