Newport Police Nab Suspect in Graffiti Case Around the Oregon Coast Town

Published 10/27/2026 at 6:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Newport, Oregon) – A case of graffiti in Oregon that quickly grew rather notorious is likely solved with an arrest.

Newport Police Department (NPD) said they have arrested a Newport man in connection with the vandalism of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a series of graffiti incidents reported across the central Oregon coast city.

Police said officers were notified on October 20 that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial had been defaced with graffiti, including the word “Peace,” a peace symbol followed by two exclamation marks, and other markings. The investigation soon uncovered more than a dozen similar graffiti incidents.

“This discovery prompted an investigation that has since identified over a dozen additional instances of similar graffiti on and beneath the Yaquina Bay Bridge, multiple locations east along SW Bay Boulevard, near Walgreens and Starbucks, and on other public and private properties throughout Newport,” said Newport Police Department. “One of the affected locations was the bus shelter in front of Newport City Hall.”

According to investigators, surveillance footage from City Hall captured 31-year-old Shane Anthony McNees of Newport applying ink or paint to a glass window at the City Hall bus shelter on the evening of October 19. Police said the marking seen in the video matched graffiti found at the veterans memorial and was made using the same color ink or paint.

On October 26, Officer Coren Loper discovered McNees near NE First Street and NE Avery Street, close to another peace-symbol marking. McNees was taken into custody and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail on charges of first-degree criminal mischief and abuse of a memorial to the dead, a Class A misdemeanor under Oregon law.

“McNees was subsequently charged with Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree in connection with the graffiti located at the City Hall bus shelter and on City Hall property,” NPD said.

Additional charges are possible as investigators continue to identify more graffiti locations.

The Newport Police Department said vandalism of public and private property is taken seriously, particularly when it involves a veterans memorial. Officials noted that such memorials serve as places of remembrance and honor for those who have served in the military.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Coren Loper or Sgt. Mike Leake at 541-574-3348. Tips can also be submitted through the Newport Police Tip Line at 541-574-5455, by text at 541-270-1856, or by email at tipline@newportpolice.net.

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