Police Arrest Suspect In Vandalism Of 9/11 Memorial In Coney Island
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Police said they've arrested the person who is believed to be responsible for vandalizing a Sept. 11 memorial in Brooklyn.
According to authorities, Elliot Baez, 58, has been charged with criminal mischief for allegedly smearing white paint on the Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance inside Coney Island's MCU Park between 2:30 and 3 a.m. Friday.
As WCBS 880's Monica Miller reported police got a tip when someone recognized him on surveillance video.
Police Arrest Suspect In Vandalism Of 9/11 Memorial In Coney Island
"This is a really despicable act," said City Councilman Mark Treyger, whose district includes the memorial and MCU Park. "Whoever could have done this is just not well."
City workers quickly removed the white paint from the wall.
Baez apparently singled out Officer Moira Smith by smearing paint around her engraved moniker, 1010 WINS' Derricke Dennis reported.
Police Seek Suspect Who Smeared White Paint On 9/11 Memorial In Coney Island
Smith was the only female NYPD officer who died in the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
Coney Island resident Barry Cohen says he takes it personally.
"It's Brooklyn, it's New York it represents and it hurts. It hurts when they do something like that," he said.
"I even can't imagine how anyone can do it," Starret City resident Solomon Khagr told CBS 2's Steve Langford.
"It's a shame. It's a shame because it's a beautiful piece of work," Harold Kay, of Coney Island, said.
As Langford reported, a motive for the crime is not yet clear.
A similar incident happened at the park back in 2013 when a statue of Jackie Robinson was defaced with racial slurs and Swastikas, Dennis reported.
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