Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office investigators have presented the results of an investigation to the Prosecutor’s Office on three juveniles in connection with a criminal mischief case at a county park. In a single incident last month, thousands of dollars of damage was done to public property inside the park.
On Aug. 1, deputies responded to Coxhall Gardens in Carmel when Hamilton County Parks personnel discovered damage inside the park after closing hours. Deputies detained four juveniles inside the park after discovering them near the damaged property. According to a Sheriff’s Office report, the juveniles were allegedly responsible for smashing decorative lights, pushing over benches and vandalizing signs around the park. The cost to clean up, repair, and replace damaged property was estimated at nearly $5,000.
Deputies are still investigating other incidents of criminal mischief at Coxhall Gardens over the last three months. During the summer, chairs, lights, plants and other items have been damaged or destroyed with estimates of nearly $14,000 in damages done to county property, according to Allen Patterson, Director of Hamilton County Parks and Recreation. Deputies are requesting assistance from anyone with information relevant to these incidents.
The Sheriff’s Office works with the Parks Department to provide security at the 12 local parks that comprise the Hamilton County parks system. Deputies regularly patrol the parks, both during open hours and after dark. Parks are open dawn to dusk but are only open after dark for sanctioned events. Cameras are placed throughout the parks to assist personnel in keeping patrons and property safe; however, those who use county parks are reminded to take steps to keep their property safe. Locking vehicles and hiding valuables are important precautions, as is maintaining awareness of surroundings while visiting the parks.