Life-Size Statue Of Ronald Reagan Torched In Temecula
TEMECULA (CBSLA.com) — Police are trying to figure out who torched a bronze statue of former President Ronald Reagan at a Temecula park last week.
City officials said the 1-year-old statue at Ronald Reagan Sports Park likely burned sometime Thursday night, as the damage was discovered the next day.
Perry Peters, who helps run the non-profit that raised the $100,000 needed to put in the statue and develop the park, said he was angry.
"I felt that the people, the volunteers who built the park here without government funds, were insulted by this," he said.
In 1983, Reagan praised Temecula in a speech before the U.S. Olympic Committee for raising the money to develop the park without help from taxpayers. That speech was written on a plaque behind the statue.
"This was a monument to them, as well as to President Reagan, who complimented them for using the can-do spirit," said Peters.
CBS2's Tom Wait reported that no suspects have been identified and the park doesn't have security cameras.
