Camas police are investigating a vandalism at Camas Cemetery where 16 headstones were toppled over, some of which were damaged.
A Camas man was arrested Thursday after fifteen headstones in the Camas Cemetery were toppled and some broke.
Michael Garwood, 21, was booked into the Clark County Jail on 15 counts of violating laws that protect cemeteries, a class C felony, as well as second-degree malicious mischief, according to Sgt. Scot Boyles, spokesman for the Camas Police Department.
Police were notified of the vandalism at the cemetery, 630 N.E. Oak St. near Doc Harris Stadium, at 11:40 p.m. Wednesday. Many of the damaged headstones were in the southeast “Pioneer Section” of the cemetery, where some of the oldest plots are.
The 30-acre cemetery has been owned and operated by the city since 2007, but it was platted in 1885 by the Camas Colony Company. The Camas Cemetery Association operated the cemetery for more than 80 years.
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Throughout its history, several local cemeteries have incorporated their graves into the Camas Cemetery, including the Camas Catholic Cemetery, The Dead Lake and The Fallen Leaf Cemetery.
The Camas Public Works Department, which maintains the cemetery, is working to have the headstones repaired.
The Camas Police Department is investigating possible additional suspects. Anyone with information about the vandalism, is asked to call the station at 360-834-4151.
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