AND SHARK WAY RIGHT BY GULF COAST HIGH SCHOOL. >> ONE OF THE TEENS ACCUSED OF CAUSING THESE BURN MARKS AT THE PELICAN BASEBALL COMPLEX IN CAPE CORAL. >> IS BACK BEHIND BARS. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING GULF COAST NEWS. I’M PETER BUSCH AND I’M CHRISTY SOTO. POLICE ARRESTED 16 YEAR-OLD PRESTONWOOD IN. >> AS GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER EDWARD FRANCO REVEALS HE’S ACCUSED OF MORE THAN JUST ARSON. YOU CAN STILL SEE SOME OF THE SMOKE DAMAGE BY THE BATHROOMS HERE. >> POLICE SAY THIS WASN’T JUST VANDALISM. IT WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND DESTRUCTION TO CITY PROPERTY. AND NOW IT’S LED TO THE ARREST OF THE SUSPECT. ONCE AGAIN. >> POINTLESS POINT WAS VANDALISM. FIND SOMETHING BETTER TO DO IT YOUR TIME. BURTON MARKS LINGERING SMOKE DAMAGE AND NEW PHOTO SHOWING MANY BOTTLES OF PINK WHITNEY LIQUOR STUFFED INTO A TOY THAT THIS IS THE DAMAGE LEFT BEHIND INSIDE THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS AT THE PUBLIC IN BASEBALL COMPLEX. THE DAMAGE THEY DID TO THAT AFFECTS A LOT OF PEOPLE, BASEBALL KIDS, THE POOR KIDS AND EVERYTHING. VERY UNFORTUNATE. CAPE CORAL POLICE SAY ON DECEMBER 5TH PARK STAFF DISCOVERED THE DAMAGE. NOW WE ARE LEARNING THE BATHROOM WAS UNLOCKED AND TRASHED DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE GRAFFITI SPRAYED ON THE WALLS AND CLEANING CHEMICALS STOLEN FROM A LOCKED CABINET AND POURED ACROSS THE FLOORS AND WALLS. POLICE SAY SURVEILLANCE VIDEO FROM DECEMBER 3RD CAPTURED THE SUSPECTS. THESE ARE JUST KIDS MESSING AROUND ITS KIDS, CREATING MASSIVE DAMAGE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITHIN OUR PARKS. POLICE ARRESTED A 16 YEAR-OLD PRESSED INTO WOODEN FOR THE CRIME. IT WAS PRETTY EASY FOR DETECTIVES TO PIECE IT TOGETHER. HE PUT PRESTON WAS HERE ON THE WALL. AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED. POLICE SAY HE ALSO SET FIRE TO AN AMERICAN FLAG AND BOOKS AT THE PLAYGROUND, EVEN DAMAGING PICNIC TABLES AT THE PARK WHEN WAS ALSO ARRESTED IN DECEMBER WITH CHRIS SOLID MCCLANATHAN ON ARSON CHARGES. POLICE SAY WIND AND ALSO SET FIRE TO A SIGN AT CAPE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. HOPE THEY GET IT FIXED AND THESE KIDS LEARNED THEIR LESSON AND DON’T TAKE A DIFFERENT PATH IN LIFE AND SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO AS FOR THE RESTROOMS AT THE PUBLIC IN BASEBALL COMPLEX, WE REACHED OUT TO THE CITY AND ARE WORKING TO GET ANSWERS ON WHEN THE REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETE. MEANWHILE, THERE IS A PORTA BY
Cape Coral teen rearrested, accused of arson and vandalism at Pelican Baseball Complex
Updated: 12:17 AM EST Jan 14, 2026
Preston Witten, 16, has been rearrested in Cape Coral after being accused of causing extensive damage at the Pelican Baseball Complex, including arson and vandalism, which left visible smoke damage and burn marks. Larry Metro, a Cape Coral resident, expressed his frustration, calling it “pointless, pointless vandalism.””Find something better to do with your time,” he added. “The damage they did to that affects a lot of people, the baseball kids, the park kids and everything. It’s very unfortunate.”The Cape Coral Police Department reported that on Dec. 5, park staff discovered the first in a series of arson and vandalism incidents. The unlocked restrooms were trashed days before the fire, with graffiti sprayed on the walls and cleaning chemicals stolen and poured across floors and walls. Surveillance video from Dec. 3 captured the suspects, including one girl and two boys, near the restrooms.”These aren’t just kids messing around, it’s kids creating massive damage for community members within our parks,” said Mercedes Simonds, public affairs officer for the Cape Coral Police Department. She also noted that Witten was accused of writing “Preston was here” on the wall inside the Pelican Ball Complex restroom.Witten was previously arrested in December, alongside Kryzalynn McClenithan, for several charges of arson, accused of setting fires inside the restrooms and burning an American flag and books in the playground, a picnic table at the park, as well as a T-shirt and a sign at Cape Christian Church on Dec. 10 and 11.”I hope they get it fixed,” Metro said. “Then these kids learn their lesson and maybe take a different path in life, find something constructive to do.”The city has been contacted for updates on when repairs to the bathrooms at the Pelican Baseball Complex will be completed.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Preston Witten, 16, has been rearrested in Cape Coral after being accused of causing extensive damage at the Pelican Baseball Complex, including arson and vandalism, which left visible smoke damage and burn marks.
Larry Metro, a Cape Coral resident, expressed his frustration, calling it “pointless, pointless vandalism.”
“Find something better to do with your time,” he added. “The damage they did to that affects a lot of people, the baseball kids, the park kids and everything. It’s very unfortunate.”
The Cape Coral Police Department reported that on Dec. 5, park staff discovered the first in a series of arson and vandalism incidents. The unlocked restrooms were trashed days before the fire, with graffiti sprayed on the walls and cleaning chemicals stolen and poured across floors and walls.
Surveillance video from Dec. 3 captured the suspects, including one girl and two boys, near the restrooms.
“These aren’t just kids messing around, it’s kids creating massive damage for community members within our parks,” said Mercedes Simonds, public affairs officer for the Cape Coral Police Department. She also noted that Witten was accused of writing “Preston was here” on the wall inside the Pelican Ball Complex restroom.
Witten was previously arrested in December, alongside Kryzalynn McClenithan, for several charges of arson, accused of setting fires inside the restrooms and burning an American flag and books in the playground, a picnic table at the park, as well as a T-shirt and a sign at Cape Christian Church on Dec. 10 and 11.
“I hope they get it fixed,” Metro said. “Then these kids learn their lesson and maybe take a different path in life, find something constructive to do.”
The city has been contacted for updates on when repairs to the bathrooms at the Pelican Baseball Complex will be completed.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.