(Image Credit: IMAGN) Tire ruts left in the grass at the T.B. McPherson Center are some of the remnants of an Easter party that got a little out of control over the weekend, in Gainesville Fla. April 6, 2021. [Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun] Flgai 040621 Easterdirtruts 01
San Diego, California – San Diego police are on the hunt for a driver who tore through the Mount Soledad Open Space Preserve, leaving deep tire ruts and destroying large sections of lawn near the National Veterans Memorial in La Jolla over the weekend.
Authorities say the reckless act of vandalism took place between Friday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m., when someone drove onto the grass and did donuts, spraying mud and uprooting sod.
San Diego police Sgt. Ariel Savage confirmed that the crime is being investigated as felony vandalism, a serious charge that could result in heavy fines or jail time.
The Mount Soledad Memorial Association (MSMA) is working with police, the Parks & Recreation Department, and San Diego County Crime Stoppers to track down the suspect.
“This vandalism not only desecrates a beautiful public space but also dishonors the memory of the veterans honored at the memorial,” MSMA Executive Director Neil O’Connell said. “This is a place of peace and reflection for our community, and we are determined to restore it.”
MSMA members are now reviewing surveillance video, hoping cameras captured the suspect in action.
“It has happened before,” said Trevor Wessman-Lavelle of the MSMA. “We have been able to determine who that individual was, and justice was served.”
Residents living near Mount Soledad’s gates say the destruction may be part of a larger issue with late-night activity in the area.
Ali Azamov, a local resident, pointed out recent evidence of reckless driving, showing a smashed guardrail, scattered liquor cans, and other debris.
“The biggest concern is safety,” Azamov said. “And it’s a lot of parties going on here. We keep calling the police. We keep raising the concern.”
The city has installed new streetlights in an effort to deter crime, but visitors to the memorial remain frustrated at the lack of respect for such a significant site.
Anyone with information about the Mount Soledad vandalism is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or visit sdcrimestoppers.org. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
Mount Soledad is home to the National Veterans Memorial, which features over 6,000 plaques honoring those who served in the U.S. military.
