A 19-year-old local suspect was arrested in connection with 61 headstones damaged at Riverside Cemetery, according to Tom Atkinson, Dowagiac’s public safety director.
Police arrested the suspect on charges of filing a false police report, malicious destruction of property more than $1,000 and malicious destruction of property over $200. He was lodged at Cass County Jail in Cassopolis.
All charges are pending authorization through the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office. Police withheld the suspect’s name pending arraignment in Fourth District Court.
Police received a report of damage to headstones in Riverside Cemetery Monday morning. Investigating officers located 61 headstones damaged and tipped over throughout the cemetery between Sunday night and Monday morning.
Initial damage estimates topped $16,000.
The suspect was located and confessed to causing the damage to the cemetery as well as extensive damage done to the Elks Golf Course on Nov. 27.
The suspect also made a false report to police on Sunday night in connection with the cemetery damage.