ST. GEORGE — Two 22-year-olds were arrested over the weekend after allegedly destroying a new radar speed display sign and attached trailer in Hurricane.
A radar speed display sign and attached trailer is destroyed after being struck multiple times by a baseball bat that sent two suspects to jail in Hurricane, Utah, March 24, 2024 | Photo courtesy of the Hurricane Police Department, St. George News
Daniel Stanton McAtee, of Toquerville, and Ryler Pearce Farnsworth, of Hurricane, were arrested Sunday following an incident reported Saturday night involving a speed regulatory trailer that was reportedly destroyed with a baseball bat.
The trailer powers a radar speed display sign that alerts motorists of their speed, and it was set up at the intersection of 700 West and 400 North in Hurricane.
According to charging documents filed in support of the arrests, a video capturing the incident was turned over to police and showed two men striking the large LED screen, as well as the trailer and electronics, with a baseball bat, which demolished the entire system. The suspects were then seen fleeing the scene in a pickup truck.
Authorities say they identified one suspect who was wearing a baseball bat as McAtee. The footage showed him swinging a baseball bat at the trailer, the officer noted, adding that McAtee was also identified as the driver of the pickup truck seen leaving the scene. Farnsworth was identified as an accomplice. Officers also learned of a video posted on social media that matched the one turned over to police.
After tracking down McAtee at a business in Hurricane, officers say he admitted to taking a baseball bat to the speed sign but could not give any specific reason other than being upset and angry at the time. He also showed officers the baseball bat in the back of his pickup truck, the report states.
While speaking to McAtee, officers recognized a second man at the business as Farnsworth, who reportedly told officers he and McAtee were at a party together and, after leaving angry, they came upon the traffic trailer and decided to destroy it with a baseball bat.
Hurricane Police Officer Dan Raddatz told St. George News after they received reports of speeding motorists on the road, the two radar speed signs were placed on the newly opened 700 West, a street used by children walking to and from school.
A radar speed display sign and attached trailer is set up on 700 West and 400 North in Hurricane before it is destroyed by wo suspects reportedly wielding a baseball bat, in Hurricane, Utah, March 24, 2024 | Photo courtesy of the Hurricane Police Department, St. George News
He said the signage was to caution drivers to adhere to the speed limit of 25 mph while traveling through the area.
Of particular concern was the intersection of 400 North and 700 West, where one radar speed display sign was posted and ultimately destroyed by the baseball bat.
The Hurricane City Police Department owns two of the trailers and connected signage, Raddatz said, adding that the equipment is expensive to replace, as each sign costs more than $12,000 due to the sensitive electronics, computer software and sophisticated radar system. Both signs were placed on 700 West a day or two before the incident.
He said they are now down to one speed display device until they can get a replacement. He asked that residents use caution while traveling through the area and not exceed the posted speed limit of 25 mph while traveling on 700 West. A similar message was posted on the Police Department’s social media page before the radar sign was destroyed.
On Sunday afternoon, Farnsworth and McAtee were arrested and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility on the felony criminal mischief charge and bail was set at $5,000 each. The charges were then forwarded to the Washington County Attorney’s Office for review.
The men were released from custody later that same evening after posting bond.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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