New Smyrna Beach police arrested a 17-year-old Atlantic High School student who caused more than $100,000 in damage to a local golf course because he said he was bored.
A photo of the damage in the Oct. 19 incident shows circles cut into the ground by the tires of a vehicle on the golf course at The Club at Venetian Bay, police said
New Smyrna Beach police said they arrested a 17-year-old Atlantic High School student for causing $100,000 damage to the The Club at Venetian Bay golf course.
The teen was charged with vandalism and criminal mischief, a second-degree felony, authorities said.
The extensive damage to the golf course initially prompted the Volusia Sheriff’s Office to offer a $10,000 reward to find the culprits.
At a press conference on Monday, Nov. 10, Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the 17-year-old driver of the truck was found by New Smyrna Beach police and sheriff’s investigators who followed up on license plate reader information, anonymous tips, and word on the street.
It was not immediately known if anyone received the $10,000 reward. Spokespersons for the New Smyrna Beach Police Department and the sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to a News-Journal inquiry.
Atlantic High teen said he was bored, nothing to do at 2:30 a.m.
Chitwood said the 17-year-old student confessed to causing the damage to the golf course with his truck. His passenger, who recorded the vandalism, is having his cellphone analyzed. Based on what is found on the device, a decision will be made whether to charge him, Chitwood said.
“(The driver) confessed to causing the damage because they were bored. They didn’t think there was anything else to do at 2:30 in the morning,” Chitwood said.
New Smyrna Beach police said the teens caused the damage to the second hole of the golf course.
Total damages topped $100,000.
“This is by far the most damage from any vandalism that I can remember recently in New Smyrna Beach,” police Chief Christopher Kirk said at Monday’s press conference.
Repairs to Venetian Bay course possibly won’t start until April
Keith Jones, an employee at the golf course, said repairs probably won’t start until April. The course was damaged as the cold season was setting in and nothing will grow.
“They hit us at the end of growing season. Nothing is going to grow right now. If we plant it’s not going to take,” Jones said. “It’s too cold for this kind of grass.”
Jones said the golf course is open and operating and the second hole is still being used but some changes have been made.
“The hole is played but the tent (or tee box, starting point for the hole) is placed in a different place,” Jones said. “We are not going to put the tent where the field is all torn up.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: ‘Bored’ student trashes New Smyrna Beach golf course, police say