Three Washington teens are facing TEN YEARS in jail after making skid marks on LGBT rainbow road mural while riding e-scooters

Three Washington teens could face ten years in jail after being arrested for making skid marks on an LGBT rainbow road mural while riding e-scooters.

Nineteen-year-old Ruslan V. V Turko and two unnamed minors were arrested on Wednesday for first-degree malicious mischief after vandalizing the rainbow Pride mural that sits in front of Riverfront Park located in Spokane, Washington. 

Turko appeared in court on Thursday, alongside legal counsel. Prosecutors requested a $15,000 bond that would cover the approximate cost of re-painting the mural. The teen was later released on his own recognizance on the condition that he does not return to the crosswalk, or the other suspects.

The teens got caught after a group of witnesses sitting at a nearby bar saw them acting nefariously, revving their electronic Lime scooters, and intentionally scooting their tires over the mural to create skid marks, court documents revealed, KREM News reported.  

The teens, 19-year-old Ruslan V.V Turko (pictured here in court, front right in yellow) and two minors were arrested for first-degree malicious mischief

Black skid marks are pictured on the LGBTQ mural located in front of Riverfront Park 

Court records cite the witnesses confronted the teens, with some taking photos with their phones. One of the minors, hit back saying: 'F*** you' F*****' and 'Go to hell, as per the news outlet.

The city said they had just finished re-painting the mural when the boys allegedly vandalized it. 

Lime, the company that creates the e-scooters, was appalled by the incident, and issued a statement on Friday, that shared their support for the LGBTQ community.

'All of us at Lime condemn these vile acts in no uncertain terms. At a time when our teams at Lime are beginning pride celebrations around the globe, it is disturbing to see the hate taking place in Spokane. 

'Lime is taking immediate action against the perpetrators and doubling down on our support of Spokane Pride and Spokane Arts.

'Lime is proud to put time and resources into celebrating Pride Month each year and supporting LGBTQ+ organizations working to uplift and protect queer people in cities around the world.

'We will not let the hateful few spoil the joy of Pride Month in Spokane, and are grateful for those working to make Spokane more welcoming for all.'

The company also said that are enacting a no-ride zone around the mural to protect it from any future vandalism attempts. 

The mural had to be re-painted after multiple people set it on fire in May. The city had just finished re-painting the Pride mural when the latest incident took place 

In May, the mural was set on fire and a fundraiser was held to raise money for the re-construction.

The Spokane Police Department reported that there was a group that dumped liquid on the mural before setting it ablaze that was caught on surveillance, as per the news outlet. 

In March, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed legislation to redefine the state's hate crime statute to include the defacement of property, now considered a felony, and punishable by up to five years in prison, and up to a $10,000 fine. 

The update was due to the original bill created in October 2023 in response to the vandalism of LGBTQ + landmarks in Spokane. 

On Thursday, June 6, a day after the incident, the updated law went into effect.