A man in the Poconos faces charges after police said he vandalized several pickleball courts because he got injured during a match.
According to the Pocono Township Police Department, on May 15, 2026, officers responded to reports of vandalism at TLC Park and Mountain View Park.
When officers arrived at the scene, police said they obtained surveillance video from May 12, 2026, showing a man cutting one pickleball net at TLC Park. The man then left the scene in a white Hyundai Tucson.
Then, on May 14, 2026, police said the same vehicle was captured on video entering Mountain View Park at 9 p.m., after the business was already closed. That man gets out of the vehicle and enters the pickleball court.
Following these incidents, police issued a Crimewatch post requesting assistance from the public in identifying the suspect.
Community members informed investigators that the man, identified as 31-year-old Saif Kaleem, had been seen at TLC Park on several occasions prior to the incident. Kaleem matched the description of the individual in the video footage, prompting investigators to conduct an interview.
During the interview, police said Kaleem admitted to sustaining a recent pickleball injury at Mountain View Park. He confessed to cutting the pickleball net at TLC Park, as well as all three pickleball nets and the tennis court net at Mountain View Park, claiming that “his summer was ruined.”
Police said Kaleem has been charged with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and trespassing.