ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help after a tower beacon light was vandalized earlier this month.
Sheriff's deputies responded to the newly constructed county radio towers in the 5800 block of County Road 208 on Monday afternoon and found the beacon light was not functioning. The lights make the tower visible to aircraft.
A tower employee discovered two holes in the LED lenses at the top of the 250 foot tower. Police suspect they came from a high-powered rifle. The damage is estimated at $10,000.
Communication towers fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission and the amount of damage makes the crime a federal felony with possible jail time for a conviction.
Anyone with any information about the vandalism of the tower is asked to contact the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office at 824-8304. You can also remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a cash reward by calling CrimeStoppers of N.E. Florida at 1 (888) 277-TIPS.
