Kiosk Damaged at Train Station
A fourth known vandalism incident has been reported, this time to the kiosk outside the Thomas C. Carper Amtrak station in Macomb. Macomb Area Convention & Visitors Bureau staff discovered yesterday morning that the glass had been broken out of the station's outdoor kiosk. The incident is under investigation.
The estimated damage to the kiosk is unknown at this time, and various other locations within the city have faced damages to public property in recent weeks as a result of vandals. On June 6, Elizabeth Bustamante, 48, of 118 ½ S. Lafayette St., was arrested at her residence and charged with criminal trespass to land and criminal damage to state-supported property after she allegedly ripped the entire center – the flowers and the ivy – from the 'beard' of the Lincoln topiary on the front lawn of Macomb City Hall around 10:30 p.m., June 2. That damage was estimated at $200-plus.
Late last month, a person (or persons) etched a deep scratch in the face of the late, local abolitionist John Blazer on the mural inside the train station, which pays tribute to the Underground Railroad in McDonough County. The damage to the mural also was estimated at over $200. Besides these latest incidents, an unknown person or persons have been 'tagging' (spraying grafitti) on public property throughout Macomb. To date, there have been seven reports of grafitti at various locations.
Members of the community should report anything suspicious to the Macomb Police Department at (309) 833-4505. In addition, information regarding these crimes may also be reported to Crime Stoppers, (309) 8363222 or 1-800-222-TIPS. Callers can also leave an online tip at macombareacrimestoppers. com. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.
