October 18, 2016
A South Jersey man allegedly admitted to damaging a Camden County football field and painting a swastika on the grounds, authorities announced Tuesday.
Alexander Peters, 28, of Gloucester City, was charged with criminal mischief after he admitted to ruining the field, the Camden County Police Department said.
On Oct. 9, Peters drove a truck on the fields and spray-painted a swastika on a building at Malandra Hall in Fairview.
The grounds are used by the Camden Raiders youth football program. The team's coach said the damage was so severe that the fields were unplayable, forcing the teams to play away games until repairs are made.
Investigators were able to use surveillance video of the incident to identify Peters as the suspect. When questioned, he admitted to the vandalism.
Peters had been in a county jail after he was sentenced on Friday to three years in prison for an aggravated assault.
I'm truly grateful to the CCPD and to all those who helped identify the individual who recklessly ruined our field,” Mayor Dana Redd said. “This selfish and hateful act should never be tolerated. And thanks to the dedicated work of our DPW, the field will soon be ready for our children to practice and play their games.”
A GoFundMe page was created in February to support the team. As of Tuesday night, 42 people have donated more than $2,680 of its $5,000 goal.
