ENP STAFF REPORTS
news@eastniagarapost.com

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TOWN OF LOCKPORT — While investigating a report of 31 American flags being damaged at Cold Springs Cemetery, Niagara County Sheriff's deputies caught the culprit in the act of damaging more.

The 31 flags were damaged sometime between Saturday and Sunday according to Cold Springs Cemetery's head groundskeeper. They were then replaced this morning by a group of veterans who had stopped at the cemetery.

Around 3:40 p.m., patrol pulled into Cold Springs Cemetery and spoke to the head groundskeeper who stated that all of the damaged flags had been located near a large flagpole, pointing the flagpole out to patrol, according to the report filed by NCSO.

The report continues:

As patrol was pulling up to the area where the damage had occurred, patrol observed a groundhog breaking one of the small American flags with it's front paws. Patrol watched as the groundhog snapped another small American flag then ran with the flag in it's mouth to a ground burrow. Patrol was on the phone with Chief Deputy (Steven) Priesch while the groundhog was causing the damage. Patrol counted 12 flags damaged by the groundhog since being replaced this morning. Patrol advised (the groundskeeper) that the person causing the damage to the flags was a groundhog.

No charges were filed against the groundhog.

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