DANVILLE -- Five people, including two adults, will be charged in connection with vandalism to two Montour County cemeteries last week.
Mahoning Township police also announced Friday that the suspects are responsible for other acts of criminal mischief over the past two weeks, which resulted in thousands of dollars in damage.
David Shope, Mahoning Township police chief, on Friday would not release the identities of the adult suspects until they are charged.
The damage at the Mooresburg United Methodist Church Cemetery, estimated at $5,000, was repaired and tombstones cleaned Wednesday at no cost by Catawissa Monument Co. workers. Thirty-eight tombstones, some dating to the Civil War era, were toppled and eight tombstones spray-painted with graffiti. One tombstone wasn't repaired because workers thought they might cause more damage setting it upright. Family members associated with the tombstone were contacted.
Forty-two tombstones at the Odd Fellows, St. Joseph and St. Hubert cemeteries in Mahoning Township were also damaged.
Calls to the Rev. Allen Acor, pastor of the Mooresburg church, and to Odd Fellows caretaker Fred Dewald for reaction to Friday's police announcement were not returned.
Police have been working on the case since the cemetery vandalism was discovered April 17.
"Once we got our information together, we started to bring people in," Shope said Friday.
Shope wouldn't say whether any of the suspects were in jail. He also declined to discuss the motive.
"That should be spelled out in the affidavit," he said, referring to arrest papers to be filed soon.
The chief also wouldn't comment on whether any witnesses were instrumental in helping police crack the case.
Charges will be filed by Mahoning Township, Danville borough and state police at Milton.
The Danville charges relate to damaged borough and private property, and road signs, discovered during the investigation.
Danville police could not be reached Friday afternoon.
n E-mail comments to kblackledge@dailyitem.com.
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