Suspects Identified In NDSU Vandalism

North Dakota State University Police have identified two male suspects in this past weekend’s vandalism to the Army ROTC statute outside the ROTC offices at the Bentson/Bunker Fieldhouse.

The information has been forwarded to the city attorney’s office for consideration of criminal mischief charges. Those responsible could also be asked to reimburse costs associated with repair and resetting of the 900 pound monument. The suspects were named following a number of interviews by campus police over the past several days.?

ROTC spokesman Lt. Col. Ted Preister says students and staff were “astonished” someone would do something like this. He says he was amazed to watch as groups of students upset by the vandalism tried to stand the monument back up. He had to post a sign asking not to move it for fear of causing damage.?

The granite monument was found tipped over Sunday. It’s been taken to Dakota Monument Company in Fargo to be checked over. The company will then reset the statute using stronger materials to ensure it won’t be tipped over again. Dakota Monument will also pick up the cost of that work.