MADISON (WKOW) — A Madison man faces 20 criminal counts after authorities say he stole two baseball bats from a store on the city’s east side and used them to damage businesses and cars.
Menkem Young, 22, is charged with one felony count of criminal damage to property, 18 misdemeanor counts of criminal damage to property and one misdemeanor county of disorderly conduct.
On Jan. 5, police were called to the 4100 block of Nakoosa Trail for a report of a man damaging vehicles with bats, according to an incident report from the Madison Police Department.
According to the criminal complaint, Young went into the Walmart on Nakoosa Trail around 9:30 that morning and grabbed two metal baseball bats. The complaint states that while walking through the store, Young used one of the bats to smash a mirror on an aisle endcap, took a jacket and walked out of the store.
The complaint states that Young also caused damage to the Citgo gas station and UW Credit Union branch near the Walmart, and to employee and city-owned cars at the Fleet Services location on Nakoosa Trail.
At the Citgo, a window near the front of the store was broken. A store manager estimated the damage at $1,500-$3,000.
At the Fleet Services location, at least 14 employee vehicles were damaged, mostly to the vehicles’ driver’s side or passenger side rear view mirror. The complaint says there was also damage to three city-owned vehicles, primarily to the tail lights on the vehicles.
Young was arrested outside the UW Credit Union. According to the complaint, UW Credit Union officials reported damage to drive-thru transfer tubes and two ATMs. The damage was estimated at well over $30,000.
Young had his initial appearance in Dane County Court on Wednesday. He is due back in court on Feb. 4.