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Vandals Target Water Feature In Downtown Greensboro

Many people have been stopping by and reacting to seeing the structure in an unsightly state. Some onlookers said they thought it was turned upside for cleaning.

GREENSBORO, NC (WFMY) -- A well-known water fountain feature in Downtown Greensboro appears to have been vandalized. Workers at nearby businesses didn't notice the structure had been vandalized until the owner alerted them to it Tuesday morning.

Milton Kern said he reported the incident to the police after asking nearby business owners if they had seen anything. Many people have been stopping by and reacting to seeing the structure in an unsightly state. Some onlookers said they thought it was turned upside for cleaning. But Kern said that wasn't the case.

"One or two or more people climbed over the gate here sometime between Friday night and Monday night and decided they wanted to do a little vandalism and tear up the water feature," said Kern. This is not the first time this structure's been vandalized.

"As soon as I saw it I knew, 'Oh man', somebody had probably got drunk again and climbed in there," said Jeremy Ray Elliot a chef at a nearby restaurant. Elliot was referring to the time he did the same exact thing he described.

In 2004 he faced serious consequences after he and some friends targeted the fountain. They climbed over the gate into the alley where the structure stood. Elliot got on the structure and that's when he slipped and fell. His friends tried to help him.

"They tried to go around back but they could not get in there so they ended up climbing in there themselves to come to get me who was stranded and legless in the middle of this thing," recalled Elliot. He said he ended up with a broken leg and the owner pursued legal action against him.

While Kern believed the men intended to deface property, Elliot said that was actually not the intent and they were under the influence of alcohol after a night out and just made a poor choice.

Elliot also had to pay $1500 for various damages and to have charges dropped and said it's an experience he would never forget. He dissuaded anyone else who may want to target the structure in the future.

The owner, Kern said trying to repair the recent damage to the structure would likely run into thousands of dollars. He has contacted the artist and is considering overhauling the entire structure within the next few weeks.

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