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Youth faces vandalism counts

by Sandy Brundage

Twenty-two counts of vandalism, one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and possession of burglary tools: Ryan Anthony Mattei, 18, is looking at a long laundry list of charges if the San Mateo County district attorney's office agrees with police.

Mr. Mattei was arrested when police responded to a call of vandalism in progress in Menlo Park on June 25.

Officers spotted a red Ford 2002 pickup truck that resembled one described by witnesses to earlier crimes, according to the police report. The truck yielded two suspects — Mr. Mattei and a juvenile companion. The investigation also unearthed a third teenage suspect.

All 22 alleged acts of vandalism took place in Menlo Park, police spokeswoman Nicole Acker said. That includes 13 car windows shattered by a BB gun — eight in one day — and four damaged mailboxes. The crimes appeared random.

One mailbox, blown up by a firecracker that also destroyed the mail, belonged to Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, sources said. She recently built a home in Menlo Park.

The San Mateo County district attorney's office received the case against Mr. Mattei on July 11, and will decide which charges merit prosecution. The cases against the 13-year-old and 16-year-old suspects will be handled by juvenile probation, according to police.

The arrests did not put a stop to vandalism within the city. On Wednesday afternoon, July 11, officers responded to a report of a driver's side car window shattered by a BB gun in the 1300 block of Willow Road. Police said right now there are no suspects.