Sybill Ludington statue vandalized days after political rhetoric found on Declaration display
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office is investigating the suspected vandalism of a second historic artifact in the Town of Carmel.
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The Putnam County Sheriff's Department has confirmed the recently restored Sybill Ludington statue that was just fixed this past Friday had an unknown solvent placed on it earlier.
The matter is being investigated as possible criminal mischief.
In photos sent to News 12 by Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne, you can see a white liquid substance at the bottom of the statue.
County Executive Kevin Byrne says the restoration team was able to "clean the statue quickly" but that the solvent was clearly applied, and that the restoration team needed to use a special solvent to remove the liquid.
This is now the second incident of county property being defaced.
County officials say that on July 4, a copy of the Declaration of Independence was placed outside the historic courthouse for people to sign their names.
The Putnam County Sheriff's Department is now investigating political messages written on top of the historic document's text.
"It's clearly graffiti. They defaced it. They wrote over the actual text of the Declaration of Independence. In some cases, over other people who signed the large replica print," said Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne.
It is not clear if both incidents are related.
Anyone who has tips on either incident is urged to contact the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.
