Seven youths are now facing charges in connection with the damage of 61 headstones at the St. Vincent De Paul cemetery in Mitchell.
Perth County OPP were contacted on January 4 at 9:45 a.m. when someone noticed damage to headstones at the cemetary on Nelson Street . Police arrived at the scene and found over 60 headstones damaged on the property. Officers believe that the damage was done sometime between January 3 at 12:30 p.m. and January 4 at 9:45 a.m.
On Monday, police announced that charges of mischief over $5,000 have been laid against a 13-year-old from Huron East, a 14-year-old from West Perth, a 15-year-old from West Perth,a 17-year-old from West Perth, and three 16-year-olds (two from West Perth and one from Stratford).
Their names cannot be released due to their ages.
"Members of the Perth County OPP detachment worked tirelessly to follow up with information received from the public, to ensure that those responsible for this senseless act of mischief were identified, arrested and charged," said OPP Acting Inspector David Sinko. "I hope that with these arrests, those directly affected by the damaged memorials, and the entire community, can begin to recover from the distress that this has caused."
