Douglas Police have made an arrest in connection to the damage and thefts at Page Memorial Cemetery, according to a press release.
Douglas PD says they received a call from an anonymous person who said they saw a man on a bicycle acting suspicious in the area of the cemetery.
Officers responded to the area and met with the man and conducted an interview. Officers were given consent to search the man and the property on his bicycle. Police then located a chisel, hammer and other tools in the milk crate attached to the back of the man's bicycle.
Officers then contacted detectives and the man was detained as a person of interest.
During an interview with detectives, the suspect admitted to taking several gravestone markers and name plates and selling them in Mexico. The suspect said he began doing this almost a year ago.
Douglas Police have identified the suspect as 53-year-old Manuel Siqueiros Olivarria. He was booked into the Cochise County Jail on multiple felony counts that include Aggravated Criminal Damage done to a cemetery and Aggravated Theft of the Metals and Felony Theft.
Douglas Police says they are continuing their investigation and are trying to locate more names or victims in hopes of them coming forward to make a police report.
If you wish to to obtain and/or file a report of damage to your family's gravesite please contact the Douglas Police Department at 520-417-7550.
