Vandals target First Selectman’s statue

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Beacon Falls First Selectman Susan Cable’s lawn statue was spray-painted white last night in an act of vandalism. CONTRIBUTED

BEACON FALLS — An antique lawn jockey statue that has been in First Selectman Susan Ann Cable’s family for 50 years has been defaced.

Cable first noticed the vandalism to the small statue when she went outside to retrieve her newspaper at about 8 a.m. Thursday at 196 Blackberry Hill Road.

The tan-painted face of the jockey, holding a lamp-like light, was covered with white spray paint, she said. It was her mother’s, and they call it Percy.

Cable, who lost to Republican challenger Gerard F. Smith in Tuesday’s election, said she reported the incident to police, and they are looking into it as an act of vandalism, destruction of property and trespassing.

She said she is not making any accusations, but it could be connected to the election.

According to a news release from state police Troop I barracks in Bethany, the case remains under investigation. Officer Caroline O’Bar is investigating.

O’Bar responded to Cable’s residence on a complaint of criminal mischief at 8:38 a.m., police said.

Cable told police that the face was originally tan and was spray-painted white sometime overnight, the release stated.

Police canvassed the neighborhood, but had no results, according to the release.

The value of the antique is sentimental, and in the 50 years her family has had it, no one has complained about it, she said.

“That’s the part that bothers me,” Cable said. “It’s just something my mom liked.”

The statue has been restored to its former condition, with a fresh coat of paint. Cable’s brother-in-law, John DelMoro, painted the face the original color, she said.

“He saw how upset everyone was,” Cable said.