COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. — The Kent County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) is looking for any information regarding an alleged vandal who damaged the Christmas light display at LMCU Ballpark.
KCSO said an adult suspect, who was caught on the ballpark's surveillance camera, came into the park shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday night. The suspect allegedly damaged hundreds of Christmas lights that were part of the ballpark's annual Drive Thru Christmas Lite Show.
Bill Schrader, creator of the Christmas Lite show, said crews discovered the vandalism this morning while doing final checks of the lights.
"They went through with wire cutters and started cutting all the all along, all the places," Schrader said.
The show has been around for 26 years and welcomes thousands of visitors each winter. Schrader knows visitors who came as children and are now bringing their own.
"For somebody to come do and what they did to us for whatever evil reason they had, you know, to take it out on take it all the city, the people here in Kent County, you know, if they wanted to put a damper on the on the show, they did a good job," he said. "But we'll come back. We'll come back and we'll make it even better."
With crews starting repairs this afternoon, Schrader plans on having the light show up and running Saturday.
He thanks the community for supporting the show for decades.
"And that's the that's the kind of climate, and they in the generosity of Greater Grand [Rapids], the people have that come to the light show because it's so special, so special."
KCSO is asking the community for help in the investigation.
If you have information that could help, please call the KCSO at 616-632-6125, or call Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 to report information safely and anonymously.
