Jefferson City Parks employed a unique tactic to seek information on vandalism suspects: poetry.
The department put out security- camera images along with a poem, "Ode to Public Assistance in Suspect Identification," on its Facebook page this week after two suspects vandalized the McClung Park restroom.
Assistant Parks Director JJ Gates said staff found the damage from 8:30-8:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6 in the lobby restrooms at the indoor pavilion in McClung Park.
The suspects allegedly used black spray paint to graffiti the walls and broke the mirrors in the men's and women's restrooms, Gates said.
Between labor and supplies -- such as new mirrors -- he said repairs will cost $750-$1,000.
Based on the security footage, the suspects are two white men -- seen wearing dark hoodies and jeans in the images -- who drove a silver four-door sedan.
Amy Schroeder, assistant director of arts and outreach, said the idea for the poem was a random thought. She'd written down notes about what to communication about the incident and was reading back over them when she realized there was a bit of rhyme to it.
"One point had a limerick rhythm," she said. "It was a pretty quick process, taking about 15 minutes to complete."
The poem goes:
"There once were two jerks at McClung Park
Who showed up December 6 after dark
To the restrooms they went
With cans of black spray paint
And decided to leave their stupid mark.
When they were all done, the restrooms were trashed
Walls covered in graffiti and mirrors smashed
They should've used Google to tag it
(Idiots used an 'i' to spell 'maggot')
Then off in a silver 4-door sedan they dashed."
Gates said he doesn't know if the post has led to any new information. The department is working with the Jefferson City Police Department, and it is an ongoing investigation.
Anybody with information on the suspects is encouraged to contact the police department at 573-634-6400.