TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — Police have arrested four children on suspicion of vandalism for allegedly causing thousands of dollars in damage to State Line Cemetery in Texarkana.

Police say the oldest of the suspects is a 13-year-old girl. The Texarkana Gazette reports that two other children under the age of 10 are suspected to be involved in the vandalism but will not be arrested because of their age.

Police say the cemetery was vandalized repeatedly in the past nine months. Last month, several monuments and headstones dating from the 19th century were knocked over and cracked.

The president of State Line Cemetery Association says the vandalism has caused $5,000 to $10,000 in damage.

Authorities say the vandals apparently used a heavy tool or sledgehammer to damage the monuments and gravestones.


 

©2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.