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  • Vandals broke safety glass to get into a back door of the Taft City Hall and vandalize it. Staff photo by Donna Hales

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July 15, 2010

Vandals strike Taft City Hall

By Donna Hales Phoenix Staff Writer

— TAFT — Investigators and town officials are trying to figure out who would have vandalized city hall.

The building was broken into and vandalized sometime between 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

Muskogee County Sheriffs deputies examined what Deputy George Roberson believes to be more than $1,000 in damage.

A huge container of heavy liquid cleaner and another large container of liquid soap were spread over the tile floors, as was broken glass.

“It is so slick,” said Taft Mayor Lelia Davis as she stood amidst the damage right outside the office area.

“I’ve been here more than 50 years, and a lot of people have been mad at me, but nothing like this has ever been done. I don’t believe anybody in Taft did this.”

A side door with a thick, glass window and a back door had been pried open.

The old school gym, part of the City Hall building, was damaged. Between the kitchen and the gym,  a squiggly line was spray painted on the wall.

Davis believes the offices weren’t entered because the door to them had two strong locks on it.

Kevin Wilson, with Eastern Oklahoma Development District also was at the site Wednesday afternoon. Davis said she believes the soap was placed on the tile floors thinking whoever opened the door would slip and be injured.

Three batches of keys not known to have been in the building were left outside the side door that was pried open.

Reach Donna Hales at 684-2923 or dhales@muskogeephoenix.com.

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