Vandals Wreak Havoc at Little League Complex

Every year, more than 1,200 youths from Menomonee Falls enjoy America’s pastime in the Menomonee Falls Little League Complex. But late Saturday night, some vandals used it as their own destructive playground and caused some big damage to the popular facility.

League President Eliot Chertack was awoken at 2 a.m. Sunday morning after receiving a call from the police department that extensive and elaborate damage had been done within the complex. The vandals’ path of destruction is shocking.

Chertack said they commandeered club car at the complex and used it to drive through and smash the wall of a storage shed. They also attempted to break into second storage shed, and tipped over a portable bathroom.

The vandals broke into the lower concession stand and tore the doors off of cabinets and sprayed ketchup, mustard and cheese all over the interior. They also attempted to break into a second concession stand.

They group then used some type of prying device to open three of the four vending machines in the complex and stole the quarters from inside.

Their spree didn’t end there.

To culminate their destructive night, the vandals duct-taped a water bottle to the gas pedal of the club car sending it unmanned across the street where it eventually slammed into a tree. The crash destroyed a belt, and also broke a fuel line on the club car.

“We have had prior vandalism to the little league complex, and all of it has been senseless,” Chertack said. “But this is more disturbing than all the previous vandalism because it was so widespread. This is the most damage we’ve ever seen.”

Organizers with the little league have posted a complete photo gallery of all the damage from Saturday.

Chertack estimated the vandals caused roughly $7,500 in damage Saturday night. It’s a tough blow for the little league, which is volunteer-driven organization and is the largest league in the state.

“It’s just senseless. We have 1,200 kids that enjoy the facilities that we have there every year,” Chertack said. “And it just galls me that someone would want to destroy that environment. It just doesn’t make sense.”

Menomonee Falls Police Lt. Kevin Von Bank said the vandals’ actions carry big consequences with the law. Simply breaking into the vending machines meets the requirement for a felony charge of criminal damage to property. The estimated value of the damage done also meets the minimum for a felony charge.

But beyond the criminal charges themselves, Von Bank said the vandals’ destructive spree is a low blow to the entire community.

“They need to realize that damage of this nature has no rhyme or reason. The damage they are causing is hurting their own community, their friends, and families,” Von Bank said. “I don’t know why they would get any enjoyment by what they did. If they understood who they hurt by doing this, maybe they would come to their senses and come forward to express some remorse for what they’ve done.”

Chertack said the league is offering a $250 reward for anyone that aids police in locating and arresting the individuals responsible for the vandalism. Von Bank said police are asking residents of the community to step forward and help them with the investigation in any way.

“We have got our work to do in terms of solving this, and we are going to go forward with this” Von Bank said. “I hope our residents will help us in our investigation and catch those who were involved.”

If you have any information that could aid police in this investigation, please call the department at 532-8700.