Post by Okwes on Jul 7, 2007 11:27:56 GMT -5
Indian reservation target of vandalism
By GREG WELTER - Staff Writer
ELK CREEK -- Two Elk Creek men confessed to committing acts of vandalism
directed at Native Americans and the Grindstone Rancheria.
Early Saturday morning the Glenn County Sheriff's office received
several calls about road signs knocked over along County Road 306, near
the entrance to the rancheria.
On investigation, deputies discovered that posts supporting the signs
were carefully driven into, snapping them about two feet above the
ground. Other signs in the area were similarly broken, in an intentional
way. Except for a stop sign and a couple of yellow caution signs, which
were bent over, all of the signs destroyed were those directing traffic
to the rancheria.
When deputies entered the reservation to investigate reports of possible
additional damage, they found deep tire marks in a softball field.
Witnesses to some of the vandalism said they saw the men responsible in
a white Dodge or Chevrolet flatbed truck.
The driver was identified as Derek Scott Holmes, 19. Investigators found
the flatbed truck at Holmes' residence in the 3000 block of County Road
309.
The treads on the tire matched the ruts left in the softball field.
When confronted, Holmes initially denied his involvement, then confessed
he and a male friend, 20, were responsible for all of the vandalism.
The friend, not yet charged with a crime, was found responsible for
throwing a beer can at pedestrians near the rancheria, where one or both
of the men allegedly shouted out racial remarks.
Holmes said he had a grudge against rancheria residents, because he
believed someone there was responsible for shooting and wounding his two
dogs the night before.
An arrest warrant was sought against Holmes, currently on probation in
Colusa County for driving under the influence, and charges may be
pending against his companion and other possible perpetrators.
Sheriff's officials expect the vandalism to be aggressively prosecuted,
since it involved the destruction of road signs and potentially
endangered motorists.
Glenn County Public Works estimated the cost to repair and replace the
signs at $1,400.
By GREG WELTER - Staff Writer
ELK CREEK -- Two Elk Creek men confessed to committing acts of vandalism
directed at Native Americans and the Grindstone Rancheria.
Early Saturday morning the Glenn County Sheriff's office received
several calls about road signs knocked over along County Road 306, near
the entrance to the rancheria.
On investigation, deputies discovered that posts supporting the signs
were carefully driven into, snapping them about two feet above the
ground. Other signs in the area were similarly broken, in an intentional
way. Except for a stop sign and a couple of yellow caution signs, which
were bent over, all of the signs destroyed were those directing traffic
to the rancheria.
When deputies entered the reservation to investigate reports of possible
additional damage, they found deep tire marks in a softball field.
Witnesses to some of the vandalism said they saw the men responsible in
a white Dodge or Chevrolet flatbed truck.
The driver was identified as Derek Scott Holmes, 19. Investigators found
the flatbed truck at Holmes' residence in the 3000 block of County Road
309.
The treads on the tire matched the ruts left in the softball field.
When confronted, Holmes initially denied his involvement, then confessed
he and a male friend, 20, were responsible for all of the vandalism.
The friend, not yet charged with a crime, was found responsible for
throwing a beer can at pedestrians near the rancheria, where one or both
of the men allegedly shouted out racial remarks.
Holmes said he had a grudge against rancheria residents, because he
believed someone there was responsible for shooting and wounding his two
dogs the night before.
An arrest warrant was sought against Holmes, currently on probation in
Colusa County for driving under the influence, and charges may be
pending against his companion and other possible perpetrators.
Sheriff's officials expect the vandalism to be aggressively prosecuted,
since it involved the destruction of road signs and potentially
endangered motorists.
Glenn County Public Works estimated the cost to repair and replace the
signs at $1,400.