UPDATE: Police Charge Eight Juveniles, One Adult Suspected of Vandalizing Memorial Field

COURT HOUSE – Middle Township Police Department responded to Memorial Field in Court House for vandalism Aug. 27 at 5:30 a.m.
Officers discovered a group of suspects had spray painted racial slurs and profanity on the track and on the buildings in the Memorial Field Complex. There was video surveillance at the field which aided officers in identifying nine suspects; eight juveniles and one adult.
All of the suspects were charged Sept. 3 with criminal mischief (third degree), criminal trespass (petty disorderly), and harassment (disorderly persons). The juveniles range in age from 15 to 17-years-old. Six are from Lower Township and two are from Haverford, Pa. The adult is William Boucher, 18, of North Cape May. He was charged on a summons.
The Middle Township Police Department has been working closely with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, Lower Township Police Department, Middle Township School District, and Lower Cape May Regional School District.
The Lower Cape May Regional School District has taken the incident seriously and will be following due process in accordance with its policies as it works with students and parents on corrective actions and training.
Criminal mischief is a crime of the third degree when the amount of damage is over $2,000. The track sustained damage and may need to be replaced. If that is the case, the dollar amount is approximately $100,000. Any person convicted of an offense of criminal mischief, that involves an act of graffiti may be required to pay the owner of the damaged property monetary restitution in the amount of the damage caused by the act of graffiti, and to perform community service. As part of the defendant’s adjudication the Prosecutor’s Office will seek restitution for damages.
If anyone has additional information on the incident, they are asked to call the Middle Township Police Department at 465-8700, or make an anonymous call to Cape May County Crime stoppers at 465-2800.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
*****
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
Middle Township Police Department responded to Memorial Field for vandalism Aug. 27 at 5:30 a.m.
Officers discovered spray paint on the track and on the buildings. There is video surveillance of the incident, which is currently being analyzed. It appears a group of at least eight juveniles or young adults are observed on the video. The Middle Township MCU is in the process of identifying the suspects.
It appears the damage may exceed $2,000, which is a third degree crime.
If anyone has information on this incident they are asked to call the Middle Township Police Department at 465-8700, or make an anonymous call to Cape May County Crime stoppers at 465-2800.