COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A suspect has been arrested in connection with the major damage and destruction of gravestones last month at the City of Coldwater’s Oak Grove North cemetery.
20-year old Christopher Palmerton, Jr. of Battle Creek turned himself in Thursday afternoon at the Branch County Jail. Coldwater City Police say an anonymous tip they received a couple of days following the vandalism helped investigators develop a case against Palmerton.
Over 100 memorials, monuments and gravestones in the cemetery located on the west side of the city along US 12 were damaged or destroyed sometime between the afternoon of Tuesday, March 6 and Wednesday afternoon March 7, 2018.
A warrant for Palmerton’s arrest was issued April 18. He was booked at the jail on preliminary charges of committing and conspiracy to commit malicious destruction of tombstones and property damage, both of which are 10 year felonies. Palmerton’s bond was set at $100,000 pending his expected arraignment today in Branch County District Court.
Coldwater Police say they believe more than one person was involved in last month’s crime.
