DEWEY BEACH, Del – Dewey Beach Police are investigating a Thursday morning vandalism incident that resulted in significant damage to lifeguard stands and other town property. 18-year-old Mateo Gomez of Long Beach, New York, has been arrested in connection with the incident.
According to Dewey Beach Police, at approximately 3:00 a.m. on July 10, they responded to a report of vandalism on the beach near Dickinson Avenue. Officers arriving on scene say they saw six people, several of whom ran away when approached. One person was seen carrying a piece of wood believed to have come from a lifeguard stand.
The investigation revealed that three lifeguard stands had been dragged into the ocean, and five were damaged in total. Warning signs were also removed. Officers also found several overturned trash cans, some of which had been placed on top of a beach shack, along with a damaged sign affixed to the structure.
Following interviews with those involved, Gomez was arrested and charged with:
Criminal Mischief
Hindering Prosecution
Disorderly Conduct
Conspiracy
Underage Consumption of Alcohol
Violation of Beach Curfew
He was released on his own recognizance pending court proceedings. The remaining people were interviewed and released.
Police noted that this type of vandalism has repeatedly coincided with the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships, held annually in neighboring Rehoboth Beach. All people identified in this incident, including Gomez, are associated with the Long Beach Beach Patrol of New York.
The Dewey Beach Police Department is working with the Rehoboth Beach Police Department and the Rehoboth Beach Patrol as part of the ongoing investigation.