WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Trees Attacked by Unknown Hatchet-Man (Stonington-WTNH) _ You may have heard the expression 'tree hugger', but what about a tree mugger? That's right, someone who attacks trees instead of protecting them. In the Borough of Stonington, police are looking for just such an individual. Several trees have been slashed there recently, including an old birch tree in the middle of a park that may have to come down. News Channel 8's Peter Standring has more from our Southeastern Newsroom at The Day. Someone has taken a saw to three trees near the Stonington waterfront. They've made several deep cuts in each. The general consensus here is that was a pretty lousy thing to do. Tom Baker, Stonington: "People should not be doing that sort of thing, and if they're caught, they should pay the price!" Susan Fornora, Stonington: "It is a strange thing for someone to do, I don't know why someone would do it, it's too bad." Too bad because the three trees are seriously damaged, and will likely die or have to be cut down. Worse: this vandalism may have been carefully planned and thought out. Here's why. One of the first things you notice about this is the trees are basically in a line - a birch, an apple tree and a cedar. Police say someone may have done this on purpose to try to improve their view. The trees stand between the water and several different houses. No one was home at any of them today but Stonington's First Selectman is convinced this tree trimming was deliberate. Don Maranell, First Selectman: "I've always felt that this is not just a random act, I think this is someone trying to improve the site line." In any case, people who live here are angry. Last year two other trees were vandalized and had to be removed. Now this. Tony Inzero says it's about more than just cutting a few trees. Tony Inzero, Stonington: "It's the audacity, the aggressiveness, or just that somebody's frame of mind has been so distorted." Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Trees Attacked by Unknown Hatchet-Man
(Stonington-WTNH) _ You may have heard the expression 'tree hugger', but what about a tree mugger? That's right, someone who attacks trees instead of protecting them. In the Borough of Stonington, police are looking for just such an individual. Several trees have been slashed there recently, including an old birch tree in the middle of a park that may have to come down.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring has more from our Southeastern Newsroom at The Day.

Damaged Tree Someone has taken a saw to three trees near the Stonington waterfront. They've made several deep cuts in each. The general consensus here is that was a pretty lousy thing to do.

Tom Baker, Stonington: "People should not be doing that sort of thing, and if they're caught, they should pay the price!"

Susan Fornora, Stonington: "It is a strange thing for someone to do, I don't know why someone would do it, it's too bad."

Damaged Tree Too bad because the three trees are seriously damaged, and will likely die or have to be cut down. Worse: this vandalism may have been carefully planned and thought out. Here's why. One of the first things you notice about this is the trees are basically in a line - a birch, an apple tree and a cedar. Police say someone may have done this on purpose to try to improve their view.

The trees stand between the water and several different houses. No one was home at any of them today but Stonington's First Selectman is convinced this tree trimming was deliberate.

Don Maranell, First Selectman: "I've always felt that this is not just a random act, I think this is someone trying to improve the site line."

In any case, people who live here are angry. Last year two other trees were vandalized and had to be removed. Now this. Tony Inzero says it's about more than just cutting a few trees.

Tony Inzero, Stonington: "It's the audacity, the aggressiveness, or just that somebody's frame of mind has been so distorted."

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.