Pember Library sign vandalized

You are currently viewing Pember Library sign vandalized

By Krystle S. Morey

Pember2 - Copy
Vandals swapped letters around on a sign outside the Pember Library Saturday.

A sign outside the Pember Library and Museum was vandalized this past weekend.
Letters were swapped around on a marquee sign Saturday night to make a few inappropriate phrases. Derogatory terms toward women and racist comments about black people were among those used on the sign.
A teen posted photos of the act on Facebook, stating: “When u and your best friend love doing the same crazy a** things when your bored.”
The post quickly attracted several shares and comments, mostly negative, with statements from, “How stupid do you have to be to post a crime on Fb? It’s defacing public property!!”; “Wow that’s just nasty!! Our young children see this!” and “Unbelievable… If u can’t appreciate the library then stay away from it.”
Sgt. Ryan Pedone of the Granville Police Department, who is leading the investigation, said the teen who posted the photos stopped by the station and told police that she didn’t vandalize the sign.
“She came into the station before we were looking for her and said she walked by and took photos,” Pedone said. “She said she just happened to see it, thought it was funny and posted it on social media.”
Pedone said the girl’s alibi checked out and that the department “disproved” her as a suspect.
The sign, located on the front lawn of the library, was promoting its Wednesday night movie screening of “In the Heart of the Sea,” an adaptation of Nathaniel Philbrick’s historical novel about the harrowing high-seas encounter that inspired Herman Melville’s Moby Dick.

The vandalized sign was promoting a movie night event hosted at the library.
The vandalized sign was promoting a movie night event hosted at the library.

Pember Board President Mary King said Monday that the movie night would be held as scheduled.
“Has nothing to do with the movie night,” King said. “We just don’t get to have any advertising out front.”
Pedone said the department is just looking for leads now – checking security cameras and talking to witnesses.
“It’s hard to pinpoint who the suspect is,” he said. “With this new Pokemon game and the free wifi, a lot of people have been hanging around there (outside the Pember Library).”
Library Director Ardyce Bresett declined to comment, saying only: “We have turned it over to the authorities.”
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information should call Granville police at 518-642-1414.