Arrests made in lake vandalisms

The Putnam County Sheriff's Department is investigating two separate cases of theft and vandalism that occurred recently in the Heritage Lake area.

The first one, police believe, occurred at two separate boat docks between the dates of June 22 and June 26 and involves three juvenile suspects who Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter says will be charged later this week.

According to a report by Deputy Lt. Matt Demmings, the officer received several reports from individuals with boats docked at the Lincoln Park and Heritage Lake marinas.

Several people reported having items stolen from their boats including fishing reels and rods, tackles boxes, fire extinguishers, stereos, gasoline tanks and satellite radio equipment.

One man reported that several pontoon boats at the Lincoln Park docking area had been cut from their moorings during the night of June 23.

Several other victims reported vandalism to their boats to include broken lights, dented pontoons and broken windshields.

The prosecutor said witnesses helped identify three juveniles from the Heritage Lake area who are believed to be responsible for the string of thefts and acts of vandalism. They will be processed in the juvenile court system later this week, he said.

In an unrelated case, one adult suspect has been charged for allegedly breaking into several campers parked in the Heritage Lake area earlier this month and making off with a motorized scooter and numerous coolers containing alcohol.

Arrested and booked into the Putnam County Jail on July 7 for possession of stolen property was Donald G. Bishop Jr., 20, Fillmore.

Sheriff's Det. Pat McFadden arrested Bishop at his home on CR 500 North after questioning him about the Heritage Lake thefts which Bishop denied, according to a police report.

Police seized four coolers, one surveillance camera (which Bishop allegedly removed from its mount to conceal his identity), and small amounts of marijuana and cocaine from Bishop's home. Police also report that a motor scooter, believed to have been stolen, was found hidden in a cornfield near Bishop's home.

In all, police believe Bishop cut his way into nine campers parked throughout the lake area. One victim reported losing 26 beers and two bottles of wine.

Last week the prosecutor filed seven separate charges against Bishop to include burglary, a class B felony, theft, a class D felony, and possession of cocaine, a class D felony.