An alleged teen vandal at a KOA and his mother both ended up behind bars. It all cut loose in Wytheville, Virginia, after the accused 15-year-old boy was nailed in a security camera photo.
Police were called to the Wytheville, Virginia, KOA March 28 on a vandalism call. It may have been “one of those for the record books” jobs. All told, more than $20,000 worth of damage was caused. Vehicle tires were slashed, seats cut, windows broken. One man’s pickup truck was stolen, but was later located. That’s the good news. The bad news, a fire had been built in the truck’s cab. In all, there were 20 listed victims.
Alleged KOA teen vandal caught on security cam photo
One of the campground guests gave police a photo taken with a security camera. Sheriff’s deputies may have been familiar with the person in the photo, because when they came calling with a search warrant, they say they found the fellow in the picture at a home less than a mile from the KOA. When they caught up with him, he was wearing the same clothes that the suspect in the security cam photo was wearing.
Making things a wee bit more damning were some other things found: a cigarette lighter in the teen’s pocket and a knife with a black substance on the blade “consistent in texture and smell to rubber,” say police.
Things got hotter when police arrived to make an arrest
If things were hot in the stolen pickup truck, they got even hotter when police went back with a juvenile detention order to take the young man in. The boy’s mother apparently had issues with that idea.
“Deputies spoke with the mother, identified as Brittney Dalton,” says a report from the Sheriff’s Office. “Deputies informed Ms. Dalton there had been a detention order issued for her son. She stated the deputies were not arresting her son and stood in the doorway of the residence while the juvenile was in the living room. Deputies went into the residence to take the juvenile into custody when Ms. Dalton assaulted one of the deputies. Both the juvenile and the mother were arrested.”
The boy is up on charges of arson, auto theft, and destruction of property. Mama is charged with assault and battery of a law enforcement officer, a felony. As to the boy’s mother, “Accused states that she ‘would never intentionally hurt anybody,’” a magistrate wrote during her bail hearing. She was released on $2,000 bail and will be back in court September 5. The KOA teen vandal was taken to juvenile detention.
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Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Wow! I will try to follow this story. I would like to know if a motivation is offered, or found. Part of my interest is because we frequently stay at KOA campgrounds. The rest of my interest is that we frequently overnight (often 4 nights annually) at a campground in the next town north of Wytheville (Max Meadows). If the kid gets out on bail, then he might seek diversion by doing much the same at our frequently used campground. 🙁 Thanks again for sharing this news, Russ and Tina, and safe travels! 🙂
Sounds like Fort Chiswell RV park!
Exactly, Jeff! We have reservations for tomorrow night. https://properties.camping.com/fort-chiswell-rv-campground/SiteMap
Safe travels! 🙂
Interesting story. Sounds like Mom needs to spend some time in jail and learn more about parental responsibilities.
Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! Sounds like both have some real issues.
The new “Dalton gang”
Thanks to the video and quick action of local law enforcement. This is obviously not these peoples first rodeo. Also kudos to KOA for not just sweeping this under the rug Any business or anybody can be a victim of a property crime but the good people in this story refused to just roll over
Geez- we stayed at that KOA on April 11th. We have never had an issue at an RV park and this is just a heads up that it can happen anywhere and to anyone.
There is a “ten year” in place for Rv’s how about a “trailer trash” rule?. LOL
I totally agree with you. I have seen many RV’s over ten years old that look like new. Then you have a lot the seasonal and permanents on sites that look like slums.
We stayed at a campground near Niagara and two 1980’s vintage motor homes pulled in. Both has been restored to better than new condition. Total restoration inside and out. I wonder how the 10 year rule would affect them.
The perp didn’t live in the park. He lived in a house less than mile away from the campground with his mother.
We have overnighted at that KOA. This could happen at virtually any campground and I can’t blame the KOA that I can read. We have been very fortunate in all the campgrounds we’ve stayed in and never heard or seen of something this bad. We will continue to frequent KOA campgrounds.
We also have stayed many times at this KOA. Nice place, good owners and staff. So sorry to hear, but this could happen at almost any place today.
They live near the KOA.
Similar vandalism incident occurred recently at the Bend Sunriver Thousand Trails. Teen vandals causing the destruction inside the building recorded on surveillance video and later apprehended. The punishment will likely be a firm finger wagging, a hug then told not to do it again!
What are you rambling on about? The kid was arrested and will face judgement for his actions. His mother was also arrested to face consequences. Where did you read any of this was political, let alone condoned?
seems you’ve gone pretty far out of your way to miss their (obvious) point.
Really missing the point. Like the highest crime in a generation is happening in a vacuum. Where criminals are actually victims in need of a hug and more cuddles.
I didn’t miss the point, I asked two questions.
Yeah, with a slap on the back of the hand and turned back to his mother who will most likely allow him to continue his lawlessness. After all she is a good role model, yeah right!!!
OMG. We stayed there two nights on April 3rd and 4th and never had a clue of what happened. The Wytheville KOA is a nice campground, taken well care of by the owners. This episode is so sad for all the victims. I sure hope the young delinquent gets his life straightened out soon or his address will be a Jail for an extended period.
I will bet the deed to my house that this individual is a repeat offender so this $20K damage wasn’t the first time he has committed a crime. Also, his mother has more than likely in her entire life never reprehended him for his bad behavior. Great parenting skills! Exactly what the parenting culture of today is all about, let their children do whatever they want with no consequences. Just look at how SHE acted to law enforcement! Well it won’t happen in MY backyard!
Since you are underlining the year 2020, maybe crime began being excused then, when there was a criminal conspiracy at the top, to overturn a lawful election victory, and many chose to excuse it?
Why did you choose not to point out the criminal conspiracy that went on from 2016 through 2020 that was paid for by the Clinton campaign? Instead, you chose to highlight something that wasn’t even a “criminal conspiracy” or an attempt to “overturn a lawful election”. It was a lawful objection and investigation. Many past presidents have objected to an election in the past and others will do in the future! It is NOT a crime to object to an election or to investigate a possible unlawful election. If it is then I guess all of those past presidents that did object should be prosecuted and incarcerated.
In 16. The president or the person who did not win did not try to overturn the election with violence. He did not tell his followers to go out and fight like hell and the fact is how many convictions do you need for criminal acts in the White House for you to become a true Patriot and say enough facts are in your face and actions speak louder than words. A. Jury and a judge convicted Trump of rape and the judge said rape by any other word is still rape lawlessness let’s have an even hand here. And hold all people accountable!
Those who always keep their heads in the sand will never see the truth or are constantly fed lies and propaganda by those whose main objective is to brain wash you into believing theirs lies are the truth. This country has lost sight of what true unbiased journalism used to do back when they reported on the facts of the news not on lies hoping you will believe them. That goes for our legal and justice system too which has been weaponized to destroy people who don’t “follow their cult”.
Oh Paul…… you poor poor man…..
I didn’t read Dr4Film’s 2020 reference as an election date matter, I read it as when the mostly peaceful Riots and Seattle’s CHAZ zone as the NEXUS period of time to high crime beginning. That was when the defunding of police started and FBI censorship became a mainstream policy. Masks became mainstream and lefty provocateur organizations like ANTIFA took advantage of mask acceptance. Note: masks are still being worn at this month’s campus Riots by the ProHamas wing of the D party. The 2020 election is not the only thing that happened in 2020.
Ssssstretch…… crime up 60% in blue cities because of J-6? No leap there. Yup, mugging and car jackings up the last 4 years because of J-6. Yup Mtrylex, you’ve sure cracked the code to why crime is so high in SanFran. That darn D. victory in November of 2020 has all the blues so happy about winning they are celebrating by committing crimes now. All that Building Back Better thats happening sure is going good. It must be all that low inflation that the kids were celebrating on college campuses last week. Your a regular Columbo.
“The boy’s mother apparently had issues with that idea.”
Well, there’s a surprise.