2008 Woodie Awards
Statue vandalism suspects turn themselves in
Amanda Carr
Issue date: 8/26/08 Section: Campus News
Two Martin residents have turned themselves in for the August 9 vandalism of a memorial statue of Sgt. Dustin Laird: a Martin National Guardsman killed in action in Iraq by an improvised explosive device.
Brandon White and Sara H. Gallimore were charged with vandalism on August 18 following their confession.
The statue, a concrete depiction of a soldier and gun erected on the corner of Dustin Laird St. and Hawks Rd, was covered in red and green paint with the words "You don't know what's right," according to the police report.
Martin Police Chief David Moore was not available for comment at the time of press, but said in a statement to the Union City Daily Messenger that White and Gallimore told police their actions were intended as "a political statement" and not directed at any individual.
Laird was a part of the Army National Guard 913th Engineer Company based in Union City, TN. He sustained major injuries on August 1, 2006 during combat operations in Rawah, Iraq and died the following day.
Laird's family was not available for comment.
Brandon White and Sara H. Gallimore were charged with vandalism on August 18 following their confession.
The statue, a concrete depiction of a soldier and gun erected on the corner of Dustin Laird St. and Hawks Rd, was covered in red and green paint with the words "You don't know what's right," according to the police report.
Martin Police Chief David Moore was not available for comment at the time of press, but said in a statement to the Union City Daily Messenger that White and Gallimore told police their actions were intended as "a political statement" and not directed at any individual.
Laird was a part of the Army National Guard 913th Engineer Company based in Union City, TN. He sustained major injuries on August 1, 2006 during combat operations in Rawah, Iraq and died the following day.
Laird's family was not available for comment.
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