Senior Constable Mike Colligan said two young women flagged down a police patrol car about 1.15am and said a group of about six youths had been tagging buildings in the centre of the town.
The youths, who were walking through town, then ''did a runner'' as the police headed in their direction. Officers lost sight of them, Snr Const Colligan said. They saw the group again on Glencarron St.
Acting Sergeant Toni Velenski talked to three of the youths while Snr Const Colligan chased the remaining three. He caught up with one who was hiding behind trees in the nearby Otago Central Rail Trail car park.
The 19 year old Queenstown youth was caught ''pink and green handed'' and was later charged with two counts of wilful damage by tagging buildings, Snr Const Colligan said.
He would appear in the Alexandra District Court on Wednesday. It was unusual to have tagging in Alexandra.
The exterior of two commercial buildings in Tarbert St had been tagged and police wanted to hear if any other buildings or property that had been marked. Police would be seeking reparation through the court, to cover the cost of removing the tagging, he said.
