Vandals Spin Doughnuts, Damage Hastings Athletic Complex: Police

HASTINGS, MN — Hastings police say they have identified two suspects in connection with significant damage to soccer fields at Veterans Athletic Complex on Sunday. The suspects drove their vehicle onto the fields and spun numerous "doughnuts," causing major damage, according to investigators.

Hastings Parks and Recreation Department staff discovered the damage Monday morning. Police say they anticipate filing criminal charges against the suspects, who are adults, in the days to come.

Approximately 200,000 square feet of damage occurred on athletic turf and other areas, according to police. This area includes three of the most heavily used soccer fields at the complex.

City staff have met with multiple contractors to examine the extent of the damage and request quotes for damage repairs.

Some sections incurred ruts from 8 to 10 inches deep, causing significant damage and requiring extensive repair efforts.

The Parks and Recreation Department staff is working on assessing the impact on the upcoming spring sports season. The user most impacted will be the Hastings Futbol Club, a local youth soccer organization, with 580 youth currently register for both recreational and traveling soccer.

HFC has 125 games scheduled at the park between April 30 and June 3.

“Vandalism and damage at any facility is discouraging; willful damage to this degree is both frustrating and disheartening,” Parks and Recreation director Chris Jenkins said in a statement.

“These fields are a place where our community’s youth are learning a sport, developing skills, building and maintaining fitness, building friendships, learning responsibility and more.” Jenkins continued.

“This damage will be corrected, and play will resume, but it will require a lot of effort and expense to get there.”

More information on criminal charges will be released when available. The city has begun the process of filing an insurance claim for the vandalism.