Police Chief Floyd Johnson
ATHENS-Police Chief Floyd Johnson has released a statement concerning the vandalism to the Pincham-Lincoln Community Center This morning, Wednesday, June 29:
“Early this morning the Police Department received a call to the Pincham-Lincoln Community Center on Brownsferry Street. The caller was a neighbor who told our dispatcher someone was throwing rocks possibly breaking windows at the Community Center. When officers arrived they found multiple windows had been broken out. They also located three juveniles both inside and outside the building. The ages of the offenders are 9, 10 and 14. After taking the juveniles into custody the officers were able to investigate the damage to the building. The juveniles broke a glass out of a back door and gained entry to the building. They sprayed fire extinguishers through most of the building. They also used rocks and bricks to break most all the windows in the front of the building. At this time we don’t have a value of the damage the juveniles caused, however I expect it to be in the thousands of dollars. All three juveniles were charged with criminal mischief 1st degree.
I think this case is extremely sad because I have seen our community unite behind the Pincham-Lincoln Community Center and the Fort Henderson project. This project has been a blessing for The City of Athens and Limestone County. Looking back over the past years of planning and the good work by many, it’s sad to see the damage three juveniles caused in just a few minutes. Early this morning I looked into the faces of two of the members of the Athens-Limestone Community Association. I saw the hurt, sorrow and other emotions as they walked through the building. In a few weeks when all the repairs are made, my desire is to see the hope in their eyes again of where the Pincham-Lincoln Community Center is serving our citizens and expanding their vision.”
