Groundskeepers at six North Arlington public schools made an unhappy discovery as they returned to work after the holiday break. Someone drove an all-terrain vehicle over the athletic fields they care for, causing significant damage to the turf. Police believe the incidents are related.
According to police reports released shortly after the rampage was discovered Dec. 30, the incidents left tire treads on the ground at Tuckahoe, Nottingham and Taylor elementary schools. The attack happened some time between 6 p.m. Dec. 23 and 10 a.m. Dec. 28. Williamsburg and Swanson middle schools also got hit along with a baseball field at H.B. Woodlawn High School. More damage was uncovered behind the Westover Public Library on Monday. Sgt. John Ritter of the Arlington County Police Department said investigators received numerous unconfirmed voicemails from residents pointing out even more damage at other schools.
“As of this morning, we may have one potential witness who heard the vehicle,” Ritter said Monday.
Officials with Arlington Public Schools and the Parks Department met Tuesday to determine how the fields will be repaired.
“At this point, people are still trying to get a handle on costs and how to manage what happened,” said Linda Erdos, the county’s director of school and community relations.
She added that the field outside H.B. Woodlawn is also Parks Department property, used by the school under a mixed used agreement. That agreement adds an extra dimension to how school officials will fix the damages. The vandal left tire marks roughly four inches wide and more than an inch deep at the H.B. Woodlawn field.
Detectives are asking for the public’s help in gathering information about the vandalism attacks. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS. Crime Solvers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. Callers to Crime Solvers do not have to give their names and do not need to testify in court.