NEW YORK, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Authorities have arrested a suspect they believe is responsible for the early Friday defacing of a memorial dedicated to emergency workers who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The damage to the Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance at Coney Island's MCU Park was discovered Friday afternoon. Portions of the 9/11 memorial were slathered with white paint, and empty liquor bottles and other refuse were found on scene, along with a bucket of paint.
Police were initially looking for a middle-aged woman after a review of security camera footage at the site showed a woman in her 40s or 50s walking from the scene. But police arrested Elliot Baez, 58. He also recognized from surveillance video.
The memorial features images of firefighters and law enforcement workers who died in the terrorist attacks more than 13 years ago. Particular attention was given to the image of Officer Moira Smith, 38, who died when the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed -- the only female NYPD officer to die in the attacks. Smith's face was circled with paint. An image of Detective Joseph Vigiano was also covered with paint, which appeared to be applied by hand.
"This is extremely personal," City Councilman Mark Treyger told the New York Post. "There is some evidence left behind that we hope will bring whoever's responsible to justice."
Vandalism of 9/11 memorials is not new; last year guerrilla artists targeted such a memorial in Louisiana.
The Staten Island 9/11 memorial has been vandalized more than once, including in 2009 by a mentally ill homeless woman.
