The Payson Roundup / Vandals overturn benches, egg, graffiti restrooms at Payson library

Archive for Friday, June 12, 2009

June 12, 2009

Vandals are escalating the scale of their attack on the Payson Public Library. Thursday night, June 11, some of the benches in the front of the building were turned over and one was damaged. The building was also egged.

Library personnel have noticed assorted minor incidents of vandalism over the last few weeks. Graffiti in the restrooms has been the most serious incident until the episode with the benches. This is not the first time vandals have attacked the memorials on the library grounds. In May of 2003 one of the memorial benches was completely destroyed. According to a police report made at the time, a sign was cut off the front door of the library and used to scoop up dog feces that were then placed inside the book return slot. Decorative rock was torn from the building and there is evidence that suggests the vandals urinated on the front wall of the library.

The community responded and helped replace the memorial bench destroyed in 2003.