Vandals leave trail of destruction in Clear Lake

50 mailboxes smashed

As many as 50 mailboxes were damaged or destroyed by vandals last week, according to the Clear Lake Police Department.

A night patrol officer discovered initial damage about 1 a.m. Wednesday, June 15.  By daybreak, reports of many bashed mailboxes were received at the CLPD.  The damage appeared to have been  caused by a bat or heavy object striking mailboxes.

Much of the damage was reported on North Shore Drive, but clusters of reports were also made from West 7th Avenue North and 2nd Avenue South.  There were also other scattered reports from other areas of the city.

Residents who had mailboxes damaged can pick up their mail at the Post Office downtown, and postal carriers will resume service once mailboxes have been replaced or repaired.

The vandalism is being investigated by the Clear Lake Police Department and the US Postal Service.

Police Chief Pete Roth asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the Clear Lake Police Department by private Facebook message, call the department at 641-357-2186, or call Crime Stoppers at 800-383-0088.

Police questioning three juveniles in wake of forced closing of Aquatic Center

Three juveniles are being questioned by Clear Lake Police to determine their involvement or knowledge of vandalism to the Clear Lake Aquatic Center Thursday night, June 16.

According to Parks and Recreation Director Randy Miller, vandals apparently climbed the seven-foot fence sometime between 8:30 p.m. Thursday and 7:15 a.m. Friday, defecated in the pool and on a chair and threw a lifeguard chair in the water.  State and federal regulation required the pool to be closed in order to allow staff to begin a 24-hour chlorination process to kill germs and help prevent recreational water illnesses.    The facility re-opened Saturday afternoon.

Police Chief Pete Roth said Monday three juveniles have been identified by the department after being involved in, or having knowledge of, the incident.

He said two police officers are investigating the vandalism and are working with parents and the juveniles to resolve the issue.

Miller said the extra chemicals needed to clean the pool, combined with loss of revenue and other possible damage could make the cost of the vandalism top the $1,000 mark.

Vandalism causing damage of $1,000 to $10,000 is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.