Wednesday, June 13, 2001
Arkansas authorities arrest
suspected golf course vandal
By DANNY M. BOYD
Associated Press Writer
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma authorities
plan to extradite an Arkansas man charged two years ago with vandalizing
the golf course at Southern Hills Country Club, the site of this
week's U.S. Open.
The Carroll County, Ark., sheriff's department
arrested Richard William Jones on Saturday and was holding him
in jail, a dispatcher said Tuesday.
Jones was charged in September 1999 for
felony malicious injury to property after he had left Oklahoma.
In June 1999, the golf course at Southern
Hills was sprayed with a substance that killed grass and left
behind impressions of profanity and swastikas, according to a
police affidavit. Twelve greens were damaged, including eight
on the championship course.
Club officials were forced to upgrade to
prepare for this week's tournament, which is expected to draw
35,000 fans daily.
In a message etched in the grass, the vandal
threatened to return for the tournament.
As of Tuesday, Tulsa County authorities
said they did not believe Jones had waived extradition. He was
being held in Eureka Springs, Ark.
Southern Hills officials could not immediately
be reached for comment.
“We will definitely go pick him up
if he waives and we'll definitely pursue a governor's warrant
if he fights it,” said Cyndi Johnston, extraditions clerk
for the Tulsa County sheriff's department.
If Jones fights extradition, the governors
of both states could agree to compel him to return to Oklahoma
to face charges. Oklahoma authorities have 90 days to obtain extradition,
Johnston said.
Jones, who was employed at an Arkansas golf
course of late, worked on the grounds crew at Southern Hills when
the vandalism occurred. He had expressed a dislike for club general
manager Nick Sidorakis and course superintendent John Szklinski,
according to a police affidavit.
Several weeks before the vandalism, co-workers
said Jones had said the two men were “going to get theirs,”
according to police.
The vandalism occurred between 11 p.m. and
6 a.m. on June 25-26. Earlier on June 25, Szklinkski reprimanded
Jones for failing to properly perform his job duties, police said.
Jones resigned from his job at the course June 28, 1999, and left
the state.
Jones had also lived at the course, according
to documents. Since leaving, he had lived in California and had
reportedly traveled to Europe.
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