Suspect in flag pole theft arraigned, free on bond

6/14/2007

A man accused of cutting down a flagpole and damaging two monuments and the lock to the gate at Mount Carmel Cemetery was arraigned yesterday, and Toledo police are investigating a similar theft from the veteran s monument in Forest Cemetery.

James W. Nelson, 45, of 3571 Stickney Ave. was released on a supervised recognizance bond after arraignment in Toledo Municipal Court on a vandalism charge. If convicted, he could get up to 12 months in jail.

Police believe three other people were involved in the crime Saturday at the cemetery at Manhattan Boulevard and Lagrange Street. Arrest warrants are expected to be filed.

Two people were in the back of Nelson s pickup, where the 35-foot-tall flagpole was sticking out the back at R&M Recycling Inc., 4103 Lagrange. Nelson received $104.40 for the pole, police said.

Investigators believe the case is connected to the theft of two 20-foot-tall flag poles, four 6-foot sign poles, and two 3-by-5-foot flags from Forest Cemetery, 1704 Mulberry St., between Friday and Monday.