Police Investigate Peace Symbol Vandalism

By Andrew Gorosko

Police are investigating an incident in which someone grabbed several wooden peace symbols that were being displayed on the pedestrian bridge above the Pootatuck River in Sandy Hook Center and then threw them down into the river, in apparent protest of the peace symbols being on display there.

 Mary Fellows, the proprietor of The Little Green Barn, a boutique specializing in organic items located at 4 Washington Avenue, said that during or after the nighttime December 7 Christmas tree lighting ceremony adjacent to her shop, someone took six wooden peace symbols that were positioned on the bridge and tossed them into the river.

Ms Fellows said the peace symbols were displayed on the bridge to promote “Peace on Earth,” not to make a specific political comment regarding the United States’ military involvement in Iraq.

Ms Fellows said she believes she knows who vandalized the signs.

Ms Fellows said she wants the person who committed the criminal mischief to be prosecuted for their actions.  Ms Fellows said she called police to complain about the incident.

Police Patrol Officer Amity LaFantano said this week said, “We are still trying to find out who it was.” Officer LaFantano said the criminal investigation is proceeding. The officer said she hopes to develop more information on the crime.

The offense committed likely is third degree criminal mischief, which is a misdemeanor. The combined  value of the peace symbols is estimated at $100.