Police investigate multiple vandalism cases in Eaton Co.

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Law enforcement is investigating two cases of vandalism in Eaton County that law enforcement and county officials say may be related.

Late last week, officials say the boardwalk at Keehne Environmental Area was vandalized, with pieces of the railing torn from the boardwalk and dumped into the water.

“Would you want someone to do this to your stuff?” asks Jason Uptgraft, a visitor at the Keehne Environmental Area. “I hope that the county is going to be able to fix this and that we can find out who or what people did this.”

The boardwalk is currently closed due to safety concerns and Michigan State Police are investigating.

“Park staff is evaluating the full extent of the damage, trying to get an understanding of the cost and the timing it will take to repair that as well as the safety,” says Logan Bailey, the Eaton County Communications Director. “When can we reopen that? Will it be a structured reopening?”

The other case happened less than a mile away at the Cheney Limestone Co. quarry in Bellevue.

On Friday, July 12, deputies from the Eaton County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call reporting malicious destruction of property at the quarry and arrived on the scene to find that two excavators were damaged and vandalized.

The excavators will require at least $10,000 in repairs.

Officials think that the two cases could be connected, and say that the county is seeing a rise in vandalism.

“We don’t know anything yet,” says Bailey. “But because of the close proximity, they are checking every box.”

The Eaton County Sheriff’s Department is seeking information that may assist in the ongoing investigation. You can send in a tip here , contact Eaton County Parks , or email communication@eatoncounty.org .

You can also contact Detective Stefan of the Eaton County Sheriff’s Department at (517) 543-5486.

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