COLUMBUS, Ohio ― Days after bloody handprints covered the capital steps, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is looking to catch the vandals red-handed.

“My instructions to them is when there is vandalism, when there is any act that is illegal, they are to investigate it, and they are to take it to prosecution, and prosecute any case that we have,” said DeWine.

He blames the painted protest on a lack of police presence at the Statehouse.

He's vowing to bolster police presence as demonstrations turn violent.

“Demonstrations are positive things. People have every right to do that, but when we reach the point of violence, that is simply not to be tolerated,” DeWine said.

But on the other side of the picket line, protesters have a much different account.

“I feel like it is definitely the police who are very aggressive towards us and they incite a lot of the violence,” said Madison Brown, of Columbus.

A week after Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther vowed to discontinue the use of pepper spray, videos from the front line show that directive is being ignored.

“I have seen firsthand, police initiating the violence with the tear gas, which is absolutely unnecessary, and with the rubber bullets? Those aren’t even rubber bullets. They are metal bullets and they are causing a lot of harm to people. They are starting it. There are many videos out there of the cops just spraying people who are just standing there,” said Kelly Hart, a protestor.

"It is very diffcult for police. It is difficult for chiefs of police. It is difficult for mayors. These are not easy decisions. These decisions need to be made in a tough environment,” said DeWine.

While both sides claim to be in the right, neither have hopes of anything being resolved anytime soon.

“It's not going to stop because nothing has changed in Columbus,” said Rebecca Dashevsky, of Columbus.