Windows with health care posters smashed in Denver

DENVER — At least two people smashed windows bearing health-care reform posters at the Colorado Democratic headquarters in Denver in what party officials are calling an act of political vandalism.

Police say the windows were broken at about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. A policeman on regular patrol witnessed two people smashing windows with hammers, stopped, then pursued the suspects as they fled on bicycles. The officer arrested 24-year-old Maurice Schwenkler on suspicion of criminal mischief.

The other suspect was still at large Tuesday afternoon. There was no phone number listed for Schwenkler and it wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney.

State party Chairwoman Pat Waak says most of the 11 shattered windows were directly in front of posters supporting health care reform and President Barack Obama.

Waak says a flier opposing Obama’s health care plans had been glued to an outside wall, though it was unclear whether it was placed there by the vandals.

“It was name calling on the other side against health care reform and our assumption is that this wasn’t a random thing,” Waak said. “And to aim your slugs right at posters and pictures looks pretty intentional.”

The Democratic Party estimates the damage at $10,000.

Denver Police said they don’t know what motivated the suspects. The headquarters was unoccupied at the time and there were no injuries reported.

“This kind of hooliganism has no place in American politics. I condemn it,” said Republican John Andrews, former Colorado Senate President and head of the conservative think tank, the Centennial Institute. “Beyond that, it’s just idle speculation as to what might have motivated whatever slug did this. The most obvious health-related link might be alcohol impaired judgment.”

Across the country, members of Congress conducting town hall meetings on health care reform have been met by protesters, some who have disrupted meetings with angry outbursts. In Arizona and New Hampshire, protesters have shown up outside Obama appearances carrying guns, while Ohio Rep. Steve Driehaus was met by protesters in Cincinnati shouting his home address that he said was a veiled threat.