Arrest made in Pequot Lakes graffiti investigation

A 23-year-old old man described by police as a gang wannabe and the ringleader in a graffiti spree this past weekend in Pequot Lakes was arrested late Monday.

Nickolas Duaine Swenson is being held in the Crow Wing County Jail for felony first-degree criminal property damage and felony probation violation. Pequot Lakes Police Chief Jerry Braam said formal charges against Swenson are expected to be filed Wednesday by the Crow Wing County attorney's office.

Swenson was arrested at his Pequot Lakes home by Braam following a short interview. Braam said Swenson was not cooperative with the investigation.

Swenson currently is on 20 years supervised probation after being found guilty in June of 2006 of felony receiving stolen property and felony simple robbery. Braam said his department has dealt with Swenson several times in the past.

Three of Swenson's accomplices - two juveniles and one adult - also have been identified, Braam said, but have not yet been arrested. He said criminal charges will be filed against those individuals, too.

The profanity-laced graffiti is believed to have happened between 3-4 a.m. Sunday, Braam said, and was found on 12 buildings in Pequot Lakes. Braam estimated the vandalism damage at $500 to $1,000 per building. Braam said the graffiti spree was the most he's seen during his five years as Pequot Lakes' police chief.

Braam said Swenson was trying to start his own gang and enlisted the others as members and to promote gang activity in Pequot Lakes.

"This individual wants people to look up to him, follow him, be part of his gang and that's why he did what he did," Braam said.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.