Three teenagers have been arrested for trashing and setting fireplace to the beloved historic Sleepy Hole lighthouse in a “heartbreaking” assault only a yr after its multimillion-dollar renovation, in line with officers.
Child-faced firebugs Elvin Ayavaca, 18, of White Plains and Richard Barrero, 19, of Harrison, together with an unidentified 17-year-old, brought about no less than $100,000 in injury to the charming 142-year-old landmark, the Westchester County Police mentioned in a press launch Friday.
The trio was charged with arson, housebreaking and legal mischief after getting caught on digital camera strolling over a bridge resulting in the lighthouse Saturday, in line with police. A fourth suspect continues to be at giant.
The younger suspects are accused of hopping a locked fence on the “cherished” lighthouse at round 3:30 a.m., then smashing a window and climbing into the towering red-and-white construction.
As soon as inside, they allegedly lit elements of the underside flooring, which is ready up as a museum, and broken vintage furnishings and no less than 35 treasured books.
The vandalism got here a yr after the county unveiled a $3.4 million renovation of the lighthouse’s inside, together with a restoration of its historic highlight. The destruction sparked native outrage and loads of police ideas, Westchester County Police Public Info Officer Kieran O’Leary advised The Put up on Wednesday.
The kids had been arraigned in Sleepy Hole Village Court docket on the felony costs, in line with police, who mentioned they aren’t naming the 17-year-old as a result of he’s a juvenile.
In-built 1883, the lighthouse at Kingsland Level Park as soon as housed a household on the banks of the Hudson River and is now on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations.
“It’s disappointing, and it’s heartbreaking to see this type of injury that was simply utterly pointless,” Westchester County Govt Ken Jenkins mentioned in Information 12 footage earlier this week.
O’Leary added of the lighthouse, “It’s a cherished landmark.
“All people in Westchester is basically upset about it.”
