35-Year-Old Charged After Damage to Odessa Fallen Officer Statue, Utility Equipment

ODESSA, Texas – A 35-year-old Odessa man has been arrested in connection with multiple criminal mischief incidents reported across the city on May 17, including damage to a memorial statue outside the Odessa Police Department and utility equipment owned by Oncor.

According to Odessa Police, Jon Adam Zuniga has been charged with Criminal Mischief between $30,000 and $150,000, a third-degree felony, Criminal Mischief, a Class B misdemeanor, and Failure to Identify to a Peace Officer, a Class C misdemeanor.

Police said officers responded around 9:40 a.m. to the area of University Boulevard and Andrews Highway after receiving a report that an unknown man used a metal pole to smash an electrical meter belonging to Oncor. Officers located a man matching the suspect description walking south on Andrews Highway.

Investigators said the suspect refused to identify himself but was later identified as Zuniga.

During the investigation, officers learned that Zuniga had also damaged the sword on the Fallen Officer Statue located in front of the Odessa Police Department. Detectives later interviewed Zuniga, who admitted to damaging the statue, according to police.

The custom limited-edition Fallen Officer Statue, owned by the City of Odessa, was valued at $88,000 in 2010. Zuniga was charged in connection with the damage to the memorial.

Police also linked Zuniga to another criminal mischief case reported earlier that morning. At approximately 2:51 a.m., officers responded to the Stripes convenience store at 1300 E. 8th St. after an unknown person reportedly threw a large rock through the store’s front glass door.

Through the investigation, detectives identified Zuniga as the suspect in that incident as well. Odessa Police said detectives are in the process of obtaining an additional criminal mischief warrant against him.