Vandalized Supercars Transform Monterey’s Major Event into a Nighttime Crime Scene | Carscoops
Carmel PD attributes the arrest of a man for vandalizing two McLarens during Car Week to teamwork, surveillance cameras, and witness accounts.
Carmel police have taken into custody 30-year-old Samuel P. Shaffer for vandalizing two McLarens.
The car owners discovered their vehicles with shattered windshields near the Pine Inn around midnight on Friday.
During Monterey Car Week, police managed 65,000 vehicles daily and made seven arrests.
For supercar owners, the fear of vandalism can be a significant concern during Monterey Car Week, as two McLaren owners found out early Saturday morning. Authorities report they have already identified the individual responsible for damaging the windshields of the cars.
According to officials, just past midnight on Friday, they received reports of vandalized vehicles. Upon arriving, they discovered two McLarens with severely damaged windshields. One of the owners, Steve Rohrer, stated that police awoke him around 1 a.m. to inform him about the incident.
“I went downstairs from my suite and opened the back door, and sure enough, there were three police officers, flashing lights everywhere, and the front of my windshield was smashed,” Rohrer told KSBW. He mentioned that the cleanup process was laborious, with shards remaining scattered throughout the interior. “My primary concern is the potential damage to the dashboard and the paint, which could be extremely costly,” he added.
**How Police Tracked Down the Suspect**
On Tuesday morning, Carmel Police arrested Samuel Shaffer, 30, from Pacific Grove, in connection with the vandalism. Acting Chief Trayer praised the department's FLOCK camera system, tips from witnesses, and the collaboration with Pacific Grove and Monterey police in locating the suspect. “Everyone is asking ‘why,’ and I don’t have an answer for that,” Trayer noted, indicating that Shaffer had limited prior interactions with law enforcement.
What consequences await Shaffer? “I hope that this experience will serve as a wake-up call for him to understand the importance of being accountable for his actions,” Rohrer stated. Regardless of whether it serves as a wake-up call, Shaffer will now have a permanent record of the incident. Regarding Car Week overall, police expressed confidence in managing the event. In their announcement of Shaffer's arrest, they highlighted their achievements for the week.
“We made seven arrests related to vandalism, reckless driving (3), DUI, and possession of an illegal firearm, all while managing over 65,000 vehicles through our town each day and responding to 911 calls,” read the statement.
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Vandalized Supercars Transform Monterey’s Major Event into a Nighttime Crime Scene | Carscoops
Carmel PD attributes the arrest of a man for vandalizing two McLarens during Car Week to the collaboration of team efforts, surveillance cameras, and eyewitness accounts.