More than 100 crosses were damaged at a Kentucky park this weekend after a vehicle drove through a Memorial Day display, authorities said.
Anthony Burrus was arrested in connection with the Saturday morning incident, the Henderson Police Department wrote on Facebook.
The 27-year-old was taken into custody on charges of first-degree criminal mischief and leaving the scene of an accident.
“It has really upset the entire community,” Jennifer Richmond, a police spokeswoman, told the Associated Press. “This is something you don’t do. This is a form of desecration. These people served their country and then someone disrespected their memory in this way, and it’s just totally unacceptable.”
Police wrote on Facebook that the damage occurred about 5:55 a.m. Saturday.
“Our officers got there and saw that someone drove right through the crosses and essentially plowed them down,” Richmond told AP.
More than 5,000 crosses are included in the display, according to the Gleaner, a local newspaper. Those crosses carry the names of residents of the community who were members of the military.
“I don’t have any words,” Jim Hanley, an American Legion member, told the newspaper. “I’m speechless.”
A Ford Thunderbird driven by Burrus was found in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant, according to the police department’s Facebook post. The abandoned car apparently connected him to the crime.
“Pieces of a cross and stake to hold the cross were found embedded in the tires,” the post said.
Richmond told AP that authorities don’t yet know if the destruction was a deliberate act.
The Gleaner reported:
“Richmond said Burrus denied causing the damage in the park, but confirmed he was driving the vehicle earlier this morning and left it after it stopped working.”
Richmond did not respond to an email from The Washington Post on Sunday.
(c) 2016, The Washington Post · Sarah Larimer
Mug shot of #AnthonyBurrus, accused of driving thru and damaging 150+ Henderson, Kentucky #MemorialDay crosses pic.twitter.com/l8aD9lXxdn
— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) May 29, 2016
