Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Ark City. (Photo courtesy Google Maps)
An Arkansas City man was arrested for vandalism of a cemetery, according to a news release from Cowley County Administrator Lucas Goff Tuesday.
It was discovered Monday afternoon that Memorial Lawn Cemetery, 24547 61st Road in Ark City northwest of SCK Medical Center, sustained damage due to vandalism. Damage was primarily done to the maintenance shop, chapel, and the office facilities.
Clean up and repairs are underway for those facilities, Goff reported.
“After further assessment (Tuesday) morning, we found damage to four internment stones,” Goff said. “The County will reach out to family members of the interned to assist in resolving the damages.”
Damage to some monuments, signage and flower arrangements have been discovered and will be repaired or removed by the County.
Cowley County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the cemetery for a possible Burglary in Progress.
When deputies arrived, it was discovered after speaking with several witnesses that a male subject, 33-year-old Steven Eugene Walker, had broken several attachments to gravestones, windows to the maintenance buildings and destroyed several flower arrangements.
Walker was taken into custody and transported to the Cowley County Jail where he was booked in for Burglary of a Non-dwelling, Criminal Damage to Property, Criminal Desecration of a grave and Bond Revocation. Walker is currently held at the jail with a bond of $12,500.
“We appreciate the community’s support, and we hope to the have the cemetery open to the public by the end of the week,” Goff said.
For more information and updates please visit www.cowleycountyks.gov/cemeteries.
