MIDDLETOWN – The city’s skate park is closed until further notice after city employees discovered vandalism in the Union Street park. A Bloomingburg teenager has been charged felony Criminal Mischief for his alleged role in the extensive damage.
On Tuesday, August 10, 2021, the City of Middletown Police were alerted by the staff of the Recreation and Parks Department of vandalism that had been committed at the skate park. The damage included spray-painted vulgar symbols and hate speech on multiple areas of the skate park riding surface, in black spray paint.
Police say that due to the extensive amount of graffiti and its highly offensive content, the skate park was immediately closed for public use until the writings could be properly removed by city staff. Attempts to clean up the area were unsuccessful due to the excessive amount of graffiti present and the delicate texture of the concrete riding surface.
When city staffers were unable to make the repairs, the city then sought professional removal and surface repairs, with a total repair cost estimated in excess of $16,000. As of September 17, the repairs have not yet been completed as the city works to schedule the work with a contractor.
Police investigated the incident, working with local businesses and community organizations to track the suspects down. Hours of surveillance footage were reviewed from multiple locations, and officers were able to identify a suspect vehicle occupied by three individuals that were likely responsible for the damage.
On Tuesday, September 14, 2021, officers charged 18-year-old James Davis of Bloomingburg with felony Criminal Mischief, misdemeanors of Making Graffiti and Possession of Graffiti Instruments, and two city code offenses of Prohibited Skateboarding and Use of a City Park after Hours as part of the investigation.
The two other suspects remain at large, and police are searching for them. Anyone with information about these two individuals is encouraged to contact the Middletown Police Department at 845-343-3151. All calls will be kept confidential.
City officials released a statement saying “The Middletown Skate Park will remain closed for public use until such time that all of the remaining damage can be fully repaired. The City of Middletown regrets the inconvenience that this incident has caused to the individuals who use this park on a daily basis for their personal enjoyment and exercise. This graffiti incident is just the latest in a series of acts of vandalism and trespassing that have been committed at the skate park, but the Middletown Police Department is working closely with the Recreation and Parks Department on security solutions and other procedures to protect the site from future incidences of vandalism and criminal activity.”
Since the closure of the park, the police department has had to contend with multiple individuals trespassing or attempting to remove the temporary fencing that was placed at the park by officers and recreation staff. The continued disregard for these markings and other security equipment has resulted in the police department issuing summonses to 18 individuals who were found inside the park. The City of Middletown Police Department asks for the public’s support and cooperation as the city works to complete the repairs and reopen the skate park. The police say they will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to enforcement of trespass violations or additional acts of vandalism.
