Auto shop owner charged with vandalism

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI)- A Warwick auto body shop owner is facing vandalism charges after allegedly damaging cars at a dealership.

Stevie D's, a car dealership in Warwick, has had dozens of cars vandalized over the years. The dealership's owner, Steven Davis, set up surveillance cameras to try to catch the vandals responsible.

The video captured a man on camera keying cars, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage. Davis quickly recognized the man as Tony Lombardi, owner of Airport Body Shop, where Davis sends cars to get repaired.

"He's been slow over the last 2 to 3 weeks so he's been calling us to ask if we have any body work and we didn't. All of a sudden we had 5 or 6 cars get keyed', Davis said.

According to police, the surveillance video shows Lombardi hanging out at the dealership. In the video, he gets out of his car, looks in the store, and then walks along two cars, dragging his key along the way.

"This is a gentleman, a guy we thought was working with us on business and he was working against us", said Davis.

Davis expects the damage to cost thousands of dollars.

Eyewitness News tried reaching out to Lombardi. He was not at the dealership and did not return our phone calls.

Police arrested Lombardi Friday night after seeing the video. He's due back in court later this month to face charges of vandalism and malicious damage.