Vancouver man in court accused of slashing tires on more than 30 cars

A Vancouver man appeared in court Monday accused of slashing tires on at least 37 vehicles — causing an estimated $14,000 in damage — in Vancouver’s Carter Park neighborhood.

Colwin F. Kent, 43, appeared in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree and second-degree malicious mischief. A judge set his bail at $15,000, and he’s scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 9, court records show.

Vancouver police responded Friday to the intersection of West 34th and Olive streets for reports that a man was stabbing tires in the neighborhood. When officers arrived, they found more than 20 vehicles in the neighborhood with slashed tires, many of which officers said they could still hear air whooshing out of, according to a probable cause affidavit.

A neighbor described the man to officers and said he heard the man say something to the effect of, “I’m tired of the (expletive) world.” Another neighbor gave officers video of the man, who they later identified as Kent, court records state.

Police found Kent and arrested him. Kent declined to answer officers’ questions, the affidavit states.

As of Sunday, officers had identified 37 vehicles with slashed tires. Investigators said some vehicles that had one or two tires slashed will still require all four tires to be replaced because of drivetrain systems. Officers estimated the damage  was worth approximately $14,500, according to court records.

“The victims in this case have expressed their deep frustration and the complications that (Kent’s) actions have caused for their lives,” the affidavit states. “Many of the victims have stated that they demand restitution for the damages caused by (Kent).”