FREEPORT VETERAN’S PARK STATUE VANDALIZED

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office says a bronze replica rifle, stolen from a veteran’s memorial park statue in Freeport, has been recovered. On Monday, a resident called deputies after finding a bronze M-1 rifle replica in a wooded area on his property. The gun had been forcibly removed from a statue located at the rear of the park, which damaged the statue. The rifle was returned to the Chairman of the Veterans of War Memorial Committee and arrangements are being made to have the statue repaired. Anyone with information on a possible suspect is asked to contact the Walton County Sheriff’s Office or call Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 863-TIPS.