HARRISON – After a three-day investigation, Harrison Police arrested a Harrison man for vandalizing the Veterans “Honor Roll” monument at Ma Riis Park in Harrison.
Gabriel Mendoza, 37, was charged with two felony counts and one misdemeanor count of criminal mischief and three counts of making graffiti as a misdemeanor.
He was issued an appearance ticket and released on his own recognizance.
It was on April 23 that Harrison Police responded to a report of graffiti at the Honor Roll monument.
Investigators observed on surveillance video an unknown man spray painting the monument at about 1:20 Saturday morning.
Police were able to track the suspect via the surveillance video to a nearby residential neighborhood and identified him from previous police contacts.
On Monday, as investigators were gathering additional video surveillance, Mendoza returned to the park, damaged the flower beds around the park and left the area.
Police met him at his home where he was arrested. During the interview, he admitted to vandalizing the monument as well as vandalizing other locations around Harrison.
