AMHERST – An illustration of a black, white and silver cat is the latest piece of public art adorning the side of a downtown building, at least temporarily.
But because the art is unsanctioned and considered graffiti by police, the two people who were creating it early Monday morning were arrested.
Ian McPherson, 19, of 16 Tucker Lane, Belchertown, and a 16-year-old Wendell girl, were arrested at 5:21 a.m. on charges of tagging property, said Detective Jamie Reardon. The girl is not identified because she is a juvenile.
Police responded to the alley next to the Monkey Bar, 63 North Pleasant St., where McPherson and the girl had six cans of spray paint and a flashlight, and were covered in paint, Reardon said. They were putting the painting of the cat on the gray exterior wall on the south side of the Monkey Bar, a wall that already has other graffiti on it.
Both ran from the scene, but were arrested a short time later at the Boltwood parking garage, Reardon said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
