OHIO — A man has been arrested in connection with a series of vandalism incidents that caused more than $91,000 in damage at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, according to the Cleveland Division of Police.
Police said the incidents began on March 28, when officers responded to the convention center at 300 Lakeside Avenue for a report of property damage. Upon arrival, officers discovered that two exterior doors had been damaged using a metal object, resulting in approximately $12,000 in damage to each door.
Authorities said officers were called back to the same location on April 14 after additional damage was reported. This time, 10 windows at the facility had been shattered.
According to police, surveillance footage showed the suspect using multiple bricks to break the windows before leaving the area in a vehicle. At that time, the suspect’s identity was unknown.
Three days later, officers responded to another incident at the convention center after someone scattered screws across a driveway in an apparent attempt to cause further damage, police said.
Investigators were eventually able to identify the suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest. The suspect, identified as Blandin Metani, was taken into custody.
Police said the total estimated damage from the incidents is $91,800. The case has been forwarded to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.
