A Bristol Township Police Officer was in the right place at the right time to stop a fire from spreading and also arrest a Levittown man, Justin Atkins, 33, for alleged vandalism at Bristol cemetery.
This incident is the latest in a series of vandalisms to cemeteries. parks and township property that has occurred in the past week.
Police in Falls Township and Middletown Township are investigating vandalism crimes that also occurred last week in their respective jurisdictions, and both have asked the public for assistance. Middletown Twp. police are investigating a rash of damage to township property while an investigation into the vandalism at Elderberry Park is ongoing in Falls Twp.
The previous vandalism incident at Bristol Cemetery involved defacing several headstones with paint. The defacing came after several workers resigned when a co-worker was accused of making a racially incendiary remarks to a cemetery visitor. This prompted Bristol Twp. Police to seek public assistance in their investigation.
The officer who took Atkins into custody observed a fire near several headstones during a premise check. He met with Atkins at the scene, and Atkins admitted to intentionally throwing several cigars into the trashcan while they were lit. While he watched the fire grow, a citizen began filming him. Atkins’ fear caused him to attempt to run from the area, according to police.
Upon extinguishing the fire, it was discovered what seemed to be memorial items in the trashcan. The trashcan was placed between two gravestones, one foot apart. Bristol Cemetery is a historical burial ground, started in 1882. Desecration Application 5509 applies to this offense, police said in the criminal complaint.
Atkins was arraigned by on-call District Judge Corryn L. Kronnagel. He was released on unsecured bail of $5,000 and his next court date is scheduled for April 9. He will appear before Judge Daniel J. Finello Jr. on the said charges, according to online court records.
At this time, both this incident and the previous one are still under investigation. No comment at this time can be made regarding them being linked or isolated incidents, said Sgt Jason Mancuso.
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