Portage police have made an arrest in connection to several cars that had tires slashed on or about Oct. 26. Robert R. Szymanski, 21, of Portage was charged with 14 counts of criminal damage to property.

Police received several reports of tires being cut on vehicles Oct. 26. There were 16 vehicles that had a total of 33 tires slashed, two bike tires, and a Halloween decoration.

Evidence was found at the scene at one of the incidents that lead police to a possible suspect. Columbia County Crime Stoppers also received calls providing information naming this same suspect. Det. Klaude Thompson conducted multiple interviews with potential witnesses and suspects, the police said in a news release.

In an interview with one witness, the witness stated that while walking with Szymanski on that night, that Szymanski had "popped" several tires. In an interview with a second witness, that witness stated that on about Nov. 10, Szymanski gave the witness a knife and asked the witness to keep it "down low" as he was a suspect in some tire stabbings. That witness gave the knife to Thompson.

Szymanski appeared in court today, where he was charged with 14 counts of criminal damage to property. He was given a $500 cash bond with conditions that he maintain absolute sobriety. He is also being held on a probation hold.