3 Toledoans indicted in cemetery flagpole case

7/24/2007

Three Toledo men accused of cutting down a flagpole and damaging two monuments at Mount Carmel Cemetery last month were indicted yesterday on felony vandalism charges.

James W. Nelson, 45, of 3571 Stickney Ave., and Richard M. Pitts, 51, and John Kuhn, 39, both of 3353 Elm St., were indicted on one count each of vandalism. If convicted, each faces up to 12 months in jail.

Toledo police said the trio cut down the pole and damaged two monuments and the lock to the gate of Mount Carmel Cemetery, Manhattan Boulevard and Lagrange Street, on June 7. They then sold the pole to R&M Recycling Inc., 4103 Lagrange, where they received $104.40 as its scrap-metal value, police said.

Police are still investigating whether the case is connected to the theft last month of two 20-foot flagpoles, four 6-foot sign poles, and two 3-by-5-foot flags from Forest Cemetery, 1704 Mulberry St.