Vandals caused more than $500,000 in damage when someone opened water lines in a Drury Southwest Inc. property Saturday evening. Officials said the sudden loss of pressure in water lines at the structure caused fire alarms to sound about 8:15 p.m. at 3065 William St. Police spokesman Darin Hickey said
"Someone made entry into the building, got into the stairwell of the business and opened the main water lines and let water run throughout the building." Officials first thought the leak was accidental, but an investigation led them to believe the incident was malicious. Drury Southwest Inc. vice president Larry Westrich said medical offices on the bottom two floors of the six-story Auburn Park Place building were severely affected by the vandalism because of the disruption of their businesses. The damage affected federal law enforcement offices and some private offices. Hickey said the people responsible face state property damage charges. Investigators released two photos of a man suspected of being responsible for the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call the police department at 335-6621 or CrimeStoppers at 339-6312.

SE Missourian