SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Authorities reached out to the public Monday for help identifying whoever drove a vehicle back and forth across a lawn at Mount Soledad Open Space Preserve over the weekend, tearing up large sections of sod, spraying mud around and leaving behind deep tire ruts.
The malicious property damage near Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial in La Jolla took place late Friday night or early Saturday morning, according to the Mount Soledad Memorial Association.
"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."
O'Connell tells ABC 10News it could cost between $3,000 and $4,000 to repair the damage. The damaged section is used for events, including weddings, birthdays and military enlistment ceremonies.
The association is working with the San Diego Police Department, the Parks & Recreation Department and San Diego County Crime Stoppers to identify the perpetrator, according to the association.
"This act is a literally a kick in the shins to those who fought and scarified to preserve freedom. It's almost like saying to you, 'We don't care what you did,'" said O'Connell.
Anyone who might be able to help investigators track down the vandal is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or sdcrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
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