Dearborn Police Investigate Cemetery Vandalism

DEARBORN, MI — Vandals struck Dearborn’s historic Northview Cemetery damaging more than two dozen headstones either late Monday night or early Tuesday. Police are investigating the incident and said the headstones knocked over appear to have been picked at random. There is no estimate of damages at the cemetery, which sits at Outer Drive Road and North Military Street.

“About 35 headstones were damaged or kicked over,’’ Dearborn Police Lt. Gary Mann told the Detroit Free Press. “My gut in cases like this is it’s always kids. The cemetery is kind of in an odd location. I just don’t personally see a lot of guys getting drunk and hanging out over there…”

The cemetery was established in 1883 and contains the graves of some of the city's oldest families, the newspaper reported. That includes actor George Peppard, who starred in television shows like the “A-Team” and moves like “Breakfast at Tiffany's” and “How the West was Won.” His grave was not damaged, the Free Press reported.

Northview Cemetery is the largest in Dearborn at 18.5 acres of land along Outer Drive. Henry Haigh, well-known Detroit attorney and Dearborn historian, founded the cemetery, the Free Press reported. Dearborn Police Chief didn’t take kindly to the vandalism.

“This type of criminal misconduct is most irreverent to our community and will never be tolerated,” he said in a news release. “We are urging the public to come forward and provide information that can help bring those responsible to justice.”

Dearborn Police are asking anyone with information to call them at 313-943-2241, or if they wish to remain anonymous they can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP.

Photo by Peyri Herrera via Flickr Commons