Newport Man Spray Paints Neighbor's Work Truck over Parking Dispute: Police

NEWPORT, RI—A 54-year-old Newport man was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and vandalism Tuesday after he spray painted a neighbor’s tires and then got into a tussle with cops, police said.

John Thomas Gaynor, 54, of 160 Broadway, allegedly was seen by his neighbor as he spray painted the driveway and left side tires of a company work truck.

The neighbor told police that he had just gotten out of the shower and was upstairs getting dressed when he looked out the window and saw Gaynor vandalizing the truck.

Police said that Gaynor was reportedly angry because the truck was parked in a spot that a different resident usually parks in.

Police responded to the scene at around 6 p.m. Gaynor reportedly yelled at police about a dog and parking spaces while keeping a hand concealed. Police asked to see his hands and he “aggressively stepped at me while thrusting his hands forward into my face while yelling, ‘what the [expletive] are you looking for, spray paint?’” a Newport officer wrote in a police report.

Gaynor then wrestled with police but was eventually arrested after the brief struggle.

He was held overnight for arraignment.