CULLMAN – On Wednesday, April 13, investigators with the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) made arrests in the case of the vandalism that occurred at Sportsman Lake Park over the weekend. Arrested were Zachary Douglas Ballenger, 19, of Baileyton, Matthew Joseph Boroughs, 22, of Cullman, Zachary Charles Perkins, 22, of Cullman and Phillip Michael Skelton, 19, of Cullman for second-degree criminal mischief.
On Sunday, April 10, at approximately 10 p.m., four individuals, later identified as the suspects arrested today, vandalized Sportsman Lake Park by writing on the bathroom walls and also doing burnouts with several motorcycles on the bathroom’s tile floor. The suspects also used paintball guns to deface several landmarks and objects in the park.
Investigators were able to obtain video from the park and publish the still images to the CCSO’s social media page on Monday, April 11. Within 24 hours of publishing the images, investigators had identified the suspects from the images and obtained arrest warrants.
“We are very fortunate here in Cullman County to have great parks and it’s a shame some people would try to ruin that, but now they will have to pay for their crime,” said Sheriff Matt Gentry. “I would like to thank all those who sent in tips via Facebook and also those who called in their tips. Our community is our biggest assist in assisting law enforcement, whether it’s sending in tips on vandals or drug dealers in their neighborhood.”
All suspects are currently being held in the Cullman County Detention Center on $1,000 bonds.
For background, see http://cullmansense.com/articles/2016/04/12/sportsman-lake-park-targeted-vandals.
