Posted on 03/26/2007 10:59:18 AM PDT by InfantryMarine
Vets memorial damaged Motorist crashes car through Capitol Complex
By The Associated Press
http://wvgazette.com/section/News/2007032517?pt=10
A motorist drove a car through West Virginia’s open-air, pedestrians-only Veterans Memorial early Sunday morning, damaging at least one black granite panel that lists the state’s war dead, authorities said.
State Administration Secretary Rob Ferguson described the damage as extensive.
Artist P. Joseph Mullins, who designed the memorial and sculpted its four statues, said he was pleased the damage was not worse. Besides the cracked panel, the memorial had red paint scrapes and at least two limestone barricades were knocked over.
- advertisement - The Charleston Police Department cited Newton resident Howard Roland Gentry, 59, for leaving the scene of an accident and failure to maintain control of his vehicle. A voicemail message left at Gentry’s residence was not immediately returned.
Charleston police said late Sunday they hope to file more charges against Gentry. “We’re investigating and checking with the [Kanawha County] prosecutor’s office about filing felony destruction of property charges,” Sgt. C.E. Sisson said. “They estimate at the Capitol the damage was in excess of $200,000.”
A police complaint alleges Gentry drove onto the Capitol Complex sometime between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. and tried unsuccessfully to drive his Subaru up the steps of the state Cultural Center.
Next, Gentry drove across the grounds, knocked over a limestone barricade and drove through the memorial, the complaint says.
After exiting on the other side, Gentry knocked over a second limestone barricade and a light pole, according to the complaint. Gentry left the Capitol Complex and drove onto Interstate 77, where he was stopped at the Westmoreland Road exit about three miles away.
Mullins said steel and glass bridges that cross the memorial’s reflecting pool must be inspected for structural damage because they were not designed to hold vehicles.
Left unscathed were the memorial’s four bronze statues, each representing both a branch of the U.S. military and the four major wars of the 20th century.
The black granite panels line the interiors of the four limestone columns and list the more than 10,000 West Virginians killed during the U.S. conflicts of the 20th century.
Dedicated in 1995, the memorial has become a popular feature of the state Capitol Complex. The state has been raising funds to correct misspellings and add names to the panels.
Police are not sure why Gentry drove through the Capitol grounds early Sunday, but have ruled out alcohol use, Sisson said. “I think he was pretty much silent,” he said. **I'll bet WE know why! **
Gentry had insurance but Sisson was not sure whether the policy would cover the damage.
The Charleston Gazette contributed to this report.
Looks like we'll need to be Gathering again soon ...and often. This antiwar defacement is escalating. These antiwar creeps spurred on by Hollywood and the Liberals in congress need to doing hard time in jail.
Join and Support the GOE:
http://www.gatheringofeagles.org/
sure it wasn't a Kennedy?
Was Patrick Kennedy in town?
sure it wasn't a Kennedy?
Beat me to it. Damn!
24 seconds - fastest fingers prize goes to you.
I need some culture NOW!
well? don't the Kennedy's think they're memberf of the "gentry" sounds like a pseudomyn to me;-)
This guy needs some cultural enrichment of the 7.62mm variety. SOB.
On his way to cast a vote in the House, no doubt.
Roland Gentry, 59. Probably just an old hippie, a member of the generation that never grew up. I wonder if he was at Woodstock or Haight Ashbury?
You might expect some stupid kid to get drunk and do something like this, not an older man approaching retirement. 59 years in this life, and he's learned nothing.
George Washington High School in Charleston, West Virginia (WV)
Howard R Gentry , Class of 1966 Kathleen Braun , Class of 1966 Martha Lee Grandstaff (Isaac), Class of 1966 Patricia Ann Hill (Graley), Class of 1966 ...
A subaru.
Imagine that.
Sorry for the duplicate posting of this news. I missed the earlier thread.
Can't hurt to have it reread though...
>>>A subaru. Imagine that.
All wheel drive comes in handy when trying to tackle a set of steps.
Given the facts, he'd probably be right.
LOL!
Somebody check that Subaru for bumper stickers.
Whaddaya wanna bet...?
It shouldn't. This was a deliberate crime, a felony, and not an accident. It was an attack on the people's property, because the little commie didn't get his own way.
"“They estimate at the Capitol the damage was in excess of $200,000.”"
Felony destruction of property.
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