CAPE MAY, NJ — Police have arrested a Pennsylvania man in connection with the theft and vandalism of a miniature golf sculpture last year.
Blane C. Dongas, 29, of Dallas, Pennsylvania, turned himself in to the Cape May Police Department on Jan. 19, according to Police Chief Dekon Fashaw.
The incident occurred at Ocean Putt Miniature Golf Course at the intersection of Jackson Street and Beach Avenue.
Officers responded to a report of damaged property at approximately 8:57 a.m. on Sept. 7.
Upon arrival, patrol officers discovered that a Humpty Dumpty-themed fiberglass miniature golf sculpture had been forcibly removed from the course after being broken from its foundation.
The estimated cost to repair the sculpture was approximately $1,000, with an appraised replacement value of approximately $2,000.
During the investigation, officers obtained surveillance video depicting the suspect and posted images on the department’s Facebook page.
Within hours, an anonymous tip was submitted through the department’s CrimeWatch page identifying Dongas as the suspect.
Police executed a search warrant for Dongas’s phone records, which placed him at the scene on Sept. 7 at approximately 4:04 a.m.
Surveillance video shows Dongas and an unidentified male walking along the Jackson Street side of the golf course.
Dongas is then observed climbing the fence to enter the property, removing the Humpty Dumpty sculpture by breaking it from its foundation, and discarding it onto the adjacent property.
Dongas, at the advice of his attorney, turned himself in and was processed and released on a summons pending court proceedings.
He was charged with criminal mischief, a fourth-degree crime, and criminal trespass, a petty disorderly persons offense.
