Photo: QueensPost
March 30, 2010 By Christian Murray
The perpetrator of some ugly graffiti at Sunnyside’s PS 150 has been arrested, according to police.
Daniel Wattenbarger, a 58-year-old male who lives on 41st Street, was arrested on March 23 for painting a message full of expletives on a wall adjacent to PS 150 — for all the students to read. He had been complaining to teachers at the school that the 6-to-10 year-olds made too much noise during recess, police said.
The arrest comes about two weeks after the March 10 incident.
The crime was linked to Wattenbarger after he went to Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer’s office several days after the graffiti incident to complain about the noise coming from PS 150. Wattenbarger allegedly told a staffer: “What am I supposed to do, shoot them.”
Staffers at Van Bramer’s office called the police. After police questioning, Wattenbarger confessed to the graffiti, police said. In addition, he was charged with “making a terrorist threat” [concerning the statement in Van Bramer’s office], a felony. Van Bramer and PS 150 have a restraining order against him.
Wattenbarger posted $8,000 in bail and has a court appearance on March 31.
When Wattenbarger was arrested, nearby parents cheered while he was being escorted from his apartment.
