Vandals Smash Windshields, Windows, Knock Over Mail Boxes

Damage was estimated as high as $20,000 from an early-morning vandalism spree in Hamilton and Ravalli County on Independence Day.

And investigators said not all the damage may have been found yet.

“While we were walking down the street investigating this we discovered damage ourselves that the people never even realized,” said Hamilton police Detective Steve Shook.

He said three people in an older pickup truck used large rocks to smash windshields of more than 20 vehicles in Hamilton, four more outside town, plus big windows in two businesses. They also knocked over about 50 mail boxes.

“As they were driving down the street they were smashing cars and car windows and exteriors on the cars, and a couple of campers were damaged,” Shook said.

The same three are suspected of throwing a rock through the windshield of a car on U.S. 93 south of Hamilton, Shook said.

“It’s a miracle somebody didn’t get killed,” he said. “The windshield shattered and the rock broke apart and a portion of it hit the driver in the chest.”

Witnesses gave police descriptions oft he vehicle and said two people were in the cab and a third in the back.

Shook said all the rocks appeared to have come from the same place, possibly a quarry north of Hamilton.