Man accused of racist graffiti spree now faces charges in Whitley County as well

Aron Bryant

A Corbin man is in jail, accused in Knox and Whitley County of spray painting threatening messages and racial slurs on walls, buildings and even a vehicle early Saturday morning.

Twenty-four-year-old Aron Bryant is charged with first and second-degree criminal mischief in both counties for the incidents.

Bryant allegedly targeted a vehicle parked at an apartment building complex on Livingston Street in Corbin. He also spray painted messages containing racially derogatory language on a home and the threat “go die” on a block wall that surrounds a nearby dumpster.

The vehicle belonged to local resident Taylor Smith.

When asked for a possible motive behind the vandalism, Corbin Police Public Affairs Officer Rob Jones calls the whole incident random “stupidity.”

“He’s is 24 or 25 years old and out spray painting graffiti. That should tell you something about him right there.”

Jones said two people that were aware of Bryant’s activities turned him in to police.

Authorities figured out who was responsible when they observed the three purchasing spray paint on surveillance video camera footage at a local Wal-Mart store.

Besides Livingston Street, the messages were painted on Stamper Street, on the underpass at Roy Kidd Ave., the Overpass Bridge and at a home on Hatfield Street.

Corbin Mayor Willard McBurney said Tuesday that he believes there ought to be “severe” penalties handed down by the court system to anyone responsible for such graffiti.

“We have spent thousands of dollars in the last few years dealing with this silliness,” McBurney said. “It has cost the city of Corbin big time. And anyone that would do that to someone else’s car … there’s just no sense in that.”

Jones said the case remains under investigation.

Corbin Patrolman Lonnie Sawyers headed up the investigation and arrested Bryant. He was assisted by fellow Patrolmen Mike Bisschop and Jon Dean.