SLP Woman Accused of Vandalizing State Park

A dozen people, including one from St. Louis Park, were arrested Monday for vandalizing one of Minnesota’s closed state parks—a direct result of the state’s ongoing budget impasse, authorities said.

Although a number of Minnesota’s state parks were vandalized over the holiday weekend, the greatest damage was done at Afton State Park, east of the Twin Cities in Washington County.

Washington County Sheriff Bill Hutton told the Star Tribune that the group burglarized and vandalized three buildings before dawn on Monday, spray-painting “We broke in for free!” on a cabin. An administrative building was ransacked, items stolen and camper cabins burglarized, he told the newspaper, causing thousands of dollars' worth of damage.

Eleven adults and one juvenile were arrested; one suspect remains at large.

Those arrested were:

• David Johnson McLin, 20, of Apple Valley, was charged with damaging a public facility and third-degree burglary. His Minnesota criminal history includes three convictions for underage drinking, three convictions for receiving stolen property, and convictions for burglary, obstructing the legal process, drug possession, domestic assault and fleeing a police officer.
• Abadir Mohamed Daoued, 23, of Rosemount, charged with damaging a public facility and third-degree burglary. Daoued’s Minnesota criminal record includes convictions for underage drinking, disorderly conduct and giving false information to police; he is facing an unrelated charge in Dakota County of first-degree property damage.
• John Ryan Scott, 18, of Rosemount, charged with damaging a public facility, third-degree burglary and disturbing the peace.
• Malik Alan Butler, 23, of Rosemount, charged with damaging a public facility and third-degree burglary.
• James Jay Flagg, 20, of Rosemount, charged with damaging a public facility.
• Anthony Michael May, 19, of Rosemount, charged with damaging a public facility and third-degree burglary. His criminal record includes convictions for underage drinking, DWI and disorderly conduct.
• Emily Katherine Miller, 20, of Rosemount, charged with damaging a public facility, third-degree burglary, underage drinking and marijuana possession.
• Ariel Lynn Neally, 19, of Rosemount, charged with damaging a public facility and underage drinking.
• Joseph Brian Slater, 20, of Rosemount, charged with damaging a public facility and third-degree burglary.
• Alexander Benson Witso, 19, of Rosemount, charged with damaging a public facility, third-degree burglary, underage drinking and marijuana possession.
• Mackensie Marie Strusz, 19, of St. Louis Park, charged with damaging a public facility, third-degree burglary and underage drinking.

Read the Star Tribune's full story for more details, including reaction from environmental groups and how the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will respond.