Faribault Police Believe Tree Vandals Caught

The Faribault Police Department issued a news release today saying three suspects involved in cutting down trees at the Faribault Soccer Complex and Faribault High School have been identified.

Working with officials from the Faribault Public School district and Faribault Parks and Recreation, Faribault detectives, "positively identified three adult males responsible for cutting down trees, including a memorial tree planted in memory of Faribault student Nicholas Paulson."

The suspects include two 19-year-old males and an 18-year-old male and "live in and around the Faribault area."

Faribault Police Chief Andy Bohlen said, "I'm pleased to see those responsible for this senseless act of vandalism have been identified. Any crime reported to our agency is taken seriously, and our detectives work diligently to identify the suspects and solve this crime to help put the Paulson family's mind at ease."

The chief states in his news release the information has been forwarded to the Rice County Attorney's Office for review of criminal charges, which could include first-degree criminal damage to property, which is a felony.

Final determination of the charges however would be made by the Rice County Attorney.