A 22-year-old Fenton man and a 20-year-old Pevely man recently were arrested for allegedly vandalizing Sunridge Park in the 8000 block of Tower Road in the Hillsboro area, says Lt. Gary Higginbotham of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
At about 11:40 p.m. Feb. 6, deputies were patrolling the area and spotted a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot, as well as people running into a nearby wooded area, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Deputies investigated and noticed that someone had spray painted park tables, the parking lot and rocks that surround the parking area, the report said.
A short time later, deputies found the two men nearby, and they allegedly had white paint on their hands and clothes, and the paint matched that found at the park, the report said.
The vehicle left at the parking lot was towed, and deputies contacted the owner, who said the two suspects had been using it, according to the report.
One of the suspects allegedly admitted to the property damage and implicated the other suspect, the report said.
The two suspects were booked and released pending application for warrants, Higginbotham said.
Once the Sheriff’s Office gets an estimate from the county for the damage, charges will be sought against the men through the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
As of today (Feb. 22), there was no estimate on the damage, but the Sheriff’s Office believes it will be more than $500, making the offense a felony.
If that’s the case, then felony property damage and trespassing charges will be sought.
No charges had been filed as of today, Higginbotham said.