Monday, August 25, 2008

REWARD OFFERED FOR VANDALISM INFORMATION

The Town of Clayton Police Department is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that helps them find and convict those responsible for what Chief Glen Allen calls a “significant” amount of damage at the new Community Center work site over the weekend.

Detective Andy Jernigan is the lead investigator on the case, and the public can contact him at 919-553-1599 or 919-553-4611 with information.

“The damage at the work site is significant, but dollar estimates on the damage aren’t available yet,” Chief Allen said. “We’re aggressively pursuing this senseless act of vandalism, and we’re asking the community to help us out by providing any information they might have, no matter how insignificant they might believe it to be.”

Police believe those responsible broke into a construction trailer on the site late Saturday afternoon and managed to start up some heavy equipment, including a bulldozer. Using the heavy equipment, they damaged the buildings under construction, a large quantity of building materials as well as other equipment.

Town Manager Steve Biggs said the vandalism is certain to delay the expected spring opening of the town’s new Community Center, though an estimate of how long won’t be available until the contractor has a chance to evaluate the damage in more detail.

“We don’t yet have a report on how this vandalism will impact the construction schedule,” the Town Manager said. “I’m sure that will take a few days to compile.”

He said the project will get back on schedule as soon as possible.

“It’s unimaginable what motivates individuals to do something so senseless,” Biggs said. “I feel confident we’ll receive information from the community that will lead us to an arrest.”

The 30,000-sq.-ft., six million dollar Community Center complex at 715 Amelia Church Road will have classrooms for a variety of classes, a childcare center, and a gymnasium and lighted outdoor patio suitable for events and receptions. It will also be the new home of the Parks & Recreation Department.

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