MEDINA, Ohio -- A gas station owner vandalized the stations of competitors who had lower prices, putting glue in credit card readers, spraying foul-smelling deer repellent on pumps and throwing beer bottles through windows, police said.
Steven Herold, 41, who owns a Shell station, pleaded not guilty to four counts of vandalism today in Medina County Common Pleas Court, according to an Associated Press report. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.
A trial date has been set for Jan. 8, 2006.
Medina detective Scott Thomas said Herold is suspected of vandalizing his two closest competitors, a Marathon station and a Clark Oil station.
The owner of the Clark Oil station reported in August 2005 that holes were drilled into the digital display on a pump. The Marathon station owner reported that deer repellent was sprayed on the pumps, police said, and also reported that he found glue in the credit card readers on eight pumps between May and December 2005.
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