Forsyth Co. authorities identify subjects in surveillance photos linked to cemetery vandalism

CUMMING - Forsyth County authorities were able to identify some subjects after releasing surveillance photos of the people they think may be involved in vandalism at a historic cemetery last month.<br /> <br /> Deputy Robin Regan with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said the vandals did extensive damage at the Coal Mountain Historical Graveyard in mid-August.<br /> <br /> "A lot of the headstones were damaged," said Regan. "They were smashed up and a lot of them had been pulled out [of the ground] and thrown in different places."<br /> <br /> Regan said some of the damaged grave sites dated back to the Civil War.<br /> <br /> "Depending on the graveyard or the cemetery, if there are people buried there who had fought in any war - including the Civil War - that also increases the charges, and in this case, there were some Civil War veterans buried at this graveyard," said Regan.<br /> <br /> Regan said investigators were called to the cemetery by a member of the county's historical society, who discovered the damage. He said the cemetery is located off Highway 9 near North Forsyth High School.<br /> <br /> "It's a very secluded area...most people would not know it was there," said Regan.<br /> <br /> Regan said investigators believe some students from the nearby high school could be responsible. They will not be releasing the identities of the subjects they have identified, according to an email from Regan.<br /> <br /> "Through obtaining some physical evidence at the scene and then responding to a nearby store, we were able to get some surveillance footage of some persons of interest that we believe may be involved," said Regan.<br /> <br /> He said anyone with information is encouraged to call the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office at 770-781-2222.<br /> <br />

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