Man Charged for Vandalizing Gravestones, Causing $1,100 Worth of Damage in Cemetery: Wallingford Police

WALLINGFORD, CT — A Wallingford man faces charges for vandalizing two gravestones and causing $1,100 worth of damage at the Center Street Cemetery earlier this month, according to police.

The caretaker of the Center Street Cemetery reported to police on Nov. 6 that two gravestones, a memorial post and a larger gravestone, were damaged the previous evening.

One of the gravestones had been knocked over and the second was broken in half. The memorial post was broken and the larger gravestone had been displaced from its original position, according to Lt. Michael Colavolpe. The total cost to repair the items was about $1,100.

Colavolpe said personal belongings were found near the damaged gravestones that the caretaker said weren’t in the cemetery the previous day.

Officers investigating the vandalism were able to identify some of the personal belongings as property of Joel Herrle, 29, of Center Street, according to Colavolpe.

Herrle was located at his residence and interviewed by police.

“During the interview, Herrle explained that he was intoxicated the previous evening and got into a physical altercation outside the walls of the cemetery after leaving a bar,” Colavolpe said in a press release. “Herrle said he ran into the cemetery, and in doing so stepped on a gravestone. Herrle explained that he leaned on a second gravestone which gave way. Herrle could not recall the complete details of the previous evening due to his level of intoxication.”

Herrle turned himself in at police headquarters on Nov. 28 after being notified that there was an active warrant for his arrest.

Herrle was charged with third-degree criminal mischief and simple trespass. He was released on a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Meriden Superior Court on Dec. 12.

Pictured: Joel Herrle, 29, of Wallingford / via the Wallingford Police Department