UPDATE: June 4 at 12 p.m.
The Whitley County Sheriff's Department reported that 48-year-old Loyle Garfield Griffith of Williamsburg was arrested and charged with violating graves on Tuesday.
The department noted that the arrest of Griffith comes after multiple headstones, markers, and ornaments at Hamblin Cemetery were reported to have been defaced and damaged.
According to a citation, an investigation found that a pair of brown boots, suspected to belong to Griffith, were found on top of a headstone marker.
On Tuesday, Griffith allegedly drove a Ford Fusion to Hamblin Cemetery, according to a citation. The suspect vehicle is connected to an alleged burning of a cross at Carpenter Baptist Church, the citation read.
The citation reported that on Tuesday evening, an officer found Griffith at the cemetery where he was "attempting to clean headstones." He was found in possession of suspected methamphetamine and allegedly attempted to hide it.
Griffith was then arrested and charged with violating graves and possession of a controlled substance.
Original Story:
Authorities in Whitley County are asking for the help to identify those responsible for vandalizing multiple graves in the Hamblin Cemetery, located on Michaels Road.
According to the Whitley County Sheriff's Office, multiple graves, monuments and headstones were vandalized between Sunday afternoon and Tuesday morning.
There are currently no witnesses to the incident.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Whitley County 911 Dispatch through the non-emergency line, 606-549-6006, or contacting the department through their Facebook page.
