BY DAN HILDEBRAN
General manager
STARKE—The Bradford County Sheriff’s Office said it assisted Starke police, questioning several juveniles and an adult about vandalism in the downtown area and arresting one juvenile for arson.
The agency said the defendants damaged the Florida Twin Theater, Veteran’s Memorial Park, Wainwright Park, and several street signs in the area.
“After analysis was conducted of the gathered surveillance footage, it was discovered that several juveniles and one adult were involved in these incidents,” the office said in a news release. “These individuals were interviewed and ultimately confessed to the damages. While speaking with several of the involved parties, it became known that these individuals were also involved in a recent house fire that occurred on South Street in Starke.”
Lt. Jason Green of the Starke Police Department said the arson suspect was talking to deputies about an unrelated subject when he let it slip that he was connected to the November 17 house fire at the intersection of Water and South streets.
Green added that the minor also admitted to his agency that he was involved with the blaze but refused to identify accomplices or additional details of the fire.
The lieutenant, who serves as the director of operations for the department, also said that the vandals painted the initials SRG or SR6 on some of the items they damaged. He added that investigators have been unable to determine the script’s meaning so far.
