A 19-year-old Victoria man, whose friends congratulated him for being arrested, has Victoria police shaking their heads in disgust.

The man was arrested early Saturday morning for allegedly spraying paint on two memorial headstones at Pioneer Square, including a war monument honouring the air force and another recognizing four children who died in the mid-1800s.

“We are particularly disturbed by this senseless crime, especially so close to Remembrance Day,” said Victoria police spokesperson Const. Mike Russell.

“He admitted to spray-painting and his friends actually congratulated him on his first arrest … a twisted form of  humour in the tagging community.

Police say the teen was holding an empty spray can and had paint on his hands when they arrived.

The man, whose name was tnot released, faces a mischief charge.