Man arrested after allegedly smashing dozens of vehicles with brick in Richmond parking lot

A man has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of destruction of property after allegedly using a brick to smash the windshills and windows of dozens of vehicles in a Richmond, Virginia, parking lot.

Tyler Holtrust, 33, was charged with one felony and eight misdemeanor counts of destruction of property for allegedly damaging 81 vehicles Tuesday, WRIC reports. Earlier reports indicated the suspect may have damaged over 90 vehicles.

Holtrust could face also charges additional charges, authorities said.

Richmond Police officers responded shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday to East Grace and Ambler streets in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom neighborhood, near Main Street Station, after receiving a report of a man damaging vehicles. Officers located Holtrust, who is reported to be homeless, and took him into custody without incident.

Witness Sydney Lee told WWBT that she watched the arrest unfold.

"I saw them putting him in cuffs and getting into the ambulance," Sydney Lee said. "So I just pulled in and kept going down, and I hadn’t even noticed, but the second I parked, I noticed the car in front of me had their windshield out. And then all of a sudden you could just see the whole line, just everything gone."

Most people who park in the lot work at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, according to WWBT. Investigators are working with VCU Police to identify the affected vehicle owners, who were notified of the investigation through flyers left on their cars, according to digital news platform Virginia Statewide Incidents LLC.

Laura Lee, a medical center employee who has parked in the lot for years, said she found her car’s windshield smashed Tuesday.

"It’s just a headache to have to deal with, but I’m just thankful that no one got hurt," Lee told WWBT.

Meanwhile, frustrated drivers scrambled to find a way home after their windshields were smashed and questioned how so many vehicles could be vandalized without anyone intervening, the outlet reports.

"I wish that the surveillance here was a little bit better. I think 100 vehicles is kind of a lot to get vandalized without anyone catching it," Lee said.

Drivers also criticized the lack of timely communication about the incident. Some VCU employees said they did not learn about the vandalism until several hours after it happened, while others said they were never notified at all, according to WWBT.

The Independent has contacted the Richmond Police Department and VCU Medical Center for comment.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help victims replace their smashed windshields, some of whom said their insurance will not fully cover the damage, WWBT reports.

Anyone who believes their vehicle was damaged in the area is asked to contact Richmond police officer S. McNeil at 804-646-3602 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.