Patton PD Search For Vandalism Suspects

Patton Borough Police Department is on the lookout for suspected flag burners, Police say around ten American flags have been burned and destroyed, and Patton Police Chief Vince Leppert says, they're not taking this act of vandalism lightly.

"Our police department's going to do everything we can to solve this particular crime, because of the nature of this crime."

Donna Dunegan, the Borough's Treasury Secretary says it's the type of vandalism that's so disheartening.

"Anytime you have vandalism in your community, it's not something you wanna hear. But, especially when it's our american flags"

Police say that between June 19th and 20th, around ten American flags were vandalized or burned from local shops, stores, and even from US veterans.
Chief Leppert thinks that shows a lack of respect.

"...that's a real slap in the face to a vet, to not only just to take their flag, but to burn it, that shows a lot of disrespect."

Dunegan says she's tame compared to a lot of the community.

"We've had a lot of angry citizens who would probably use a lot more choice words than I would use."

Nobody saw flags being burned, but Cheif Leppert says some "potential" suspects were spotted that night.

"...we don't have any leads at this time, there was some young people seen on the street that night. We didn't have any eye witnesses to actually  see the kids taking the flags or destroying them, but we did have some people who saw some kids out that night"

The vandals are said to have burned many of these flags at the 5th Avenue Auto Sales Lot. Whether they're juveniles or not, the Police Chief says whoever it is, isn't getting off the hook.

"If they're under the age of 18, they would be prosecuted through the juvenile county, the Cambria County Juvenile Court. If they're over 18, we'll file a criminal complaint, against them, and that'll go through the county court, at the adult level."

Local citizens, like Dunegan, think that the flags getting burned around the 4th, only bolsters the blow.

"It actually does hurt a little bit more, a lot more, it's not just a flag, it's the symbolism of our country,"

And That Common feeling from folks in Patton, is why police stand so confident.

"If you were a betting man, are you gonna catch these guys?"

"I would definitely bet in our favor."

If you have any tips or information about this crime, call the Patton Borough Police Department at 814-674-3650.