Reward offered after damage to local student memorial

Erin-Elizabeth Purcell – Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – Manatee County Crime Stoppers is seeking information on the vandalization of the memorial of Matthew Ryan Powers, a Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) Mustang killed in a Sept. 2018 car accident.

The memorial, located in Matthew Ryan Powers Memorial Baseball Field at Lakewood Ranch Park, was vandalized around Christmas. Powers’ father Dan Powers found the memorial full of scratches covering the depiction of his son’s face.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MSO) is now urging anyone who may have information regarding the incident to come forward and are offering a reward for reports that lead to an arrest.

“What we are hoping is that somebody who know something steps forward. We want the responsible party to make it right. The longer something like this goes on the longer the damage sticks to the person who did it,” said Dan Powers.

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The monument originally cost over $1600 many local residents have stepped forward to help.

“Lots of people have offered donations to help repair the damage. In fact, a few local businesses have offered to pay for it outright. It really takes our breath away to see the generosity of the community,” said Powers.

Anyone with information about this incident please can contact the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at (941) 747-3011, ext. 2160. To make an anonymous report call Manatee Crime Stoppers at 866-634-8477 (TIPS) or visit ManateeCrimeStoppers.com