Vandals cause $500,000 in damage to office building

Update

Cape Girardeau police say they've captured a suspect in the vandalism. Just before 11 a.m. police hadn't yet received a warrant, so the suspect's name was being withheld.

Original story

Vandals caused more than $500,000 in damage when someone opened water lines in a Drury Southwest Inc. property Saturday evening, officials said.

The sudden loss of pressure in water lines at the structure caused fire alarms to sound about 8:15 p.m. at 3065 William St., police spokesman Darin Hickey said.

"Someone made entry into the building, got into the stairwell of the business and opened the main water lines," Hickey said. "Someone intentionally opened the water lines and let water run throughout the building."

Officials first thought the leak was accidental, but an investigation led them to believe the incident was malicious, he said.

Drury Southwest Inc. vice president Larry Westrich said medical offices on the bottom two floors of the six-story Auburn Park Place building were severely affected by the vandalism because of the disruption of their businesses.

"The water was released at the top, so there was damage to all six floors, from the top to the bottom," he said. "It is a very big disturbance, not only to the building, but to the tenants. Tenants are trying to get their lives back together."

The damage affected federal law enforcement offices and some private offices, Hickey said. The people responsible face state property damage charges, he said.

Investigators released two photos of a man suspected of being responsible for the incident.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the police department at 335-6621 or CrimeStoppers at 339-6312.

Pertinent address:

3065 William St., Cape Girardeau, MO