Two charged with vandalizing business

FRANKLIN — Two people were charged after Franklin police received a complaint of damage to the Irish Cottage Inn.
Sean C. McBride, 21 of Hardyston and Prezemyslaw Karas, 22, of Franklin were both charged with criminal mischief, which prohibits anyone from purposely or knowingly damaging tangible property of another or damaging tangible property of another recklessly or negligently and or purposely, knowingly or recklessly tampering with tangible property of another so as to endanger person or property.
Police said the damage was specific to the restroom, and was estimated to be in the thousands of dollars.
The damage was alleged to have occurred on Jan. 22. After staff noticed damage to the restroom on the evening of Jan. 22, an employee found that a patron had filmed another patron causing the damage and posting it to the social networking site “Snapchat”.
Management advised their staff that those alleged individuals, later identified as McBride and Karas were no longer permitted in the establishment. On Jan. 28, police said management found both males in the establishment again but not before they allegedly cause significantly more damage.
Following the execution of a search warrant, McBride was arrested at his residence in Hardyston on Feb. 1 at approximately 6:30 p.m.
Karas was arrested on Feb. 1 at about 10:45 p.m. at his residence in Franklin Borough.
Both were released pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing.
Investigation is ongoing and additional arrests may follow.