Man arrested after throwing paint on Vegas sign

[December 19, 2009]  LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Las Vegas police say they have arrested a 69-year-old man who was caught on video throwing paint on Sin City's famous sign welcoming tourists to the Las Vegas Strip.

Police spokesman Bill Cassell said Joseph Peter Pepitone of Las Vegas was arrested and booked into county jail on a misdemeanor property damage charge.

A local Fox television crew filming a segment about graffiti Friday morning caught a shirtless and barefoot Pepitone throwing red paint on the front of the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign. The paint hit the first "U" in "Fabulous, then smeared through the word "Vegas."

Pepitone earlier told The Associated Press that he was planning a health care demonstration while wearing a barrel and a Santa Claus hat. He didn't mention defacing the sign.

[Associated Press]

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