N.Y. lifeguard member charged with vandalizing Dewey Beach lifeguard stands

DEWEY BEACH, Del. – A New York man has been arrested after Dewey Beach Police say he vandalized lifeguard stands on the beach.

On July 10th around 3:00 a.m., officers responded to reports of vandalism on the sand. When they arrived, police say they saw six individuals on the beach, and several fled the scene. Police say one of them was carrying what appeared to be wood matching that of the lifeguard stands.

When officers looked more closely at the structures, they say they had been dragged into the ocean, and five were damaged. Police say the vandals also removed warning signs from the stands. Additionally, police say they noticed multiple overturned trash cans, several of which had been placed on top of a beach shack. A sign on the shack was also damaged, police say.

After interviewing witnesses, police identified 18-year-old Mateo Gomez of Long Beach, N.Y. as a suspect. He’s facing multiple charges, but was released on his own recognizance. The remaining individuals were interviewed and released.

Dewey Beach Police say beach vandalism during the United States Lifesaving Association Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships in Rehoboth Beach has been a problem for several years. Gomez and the other individuals involved in the incident were all identified as being associated with the Long Beach Patrol of New York.

The investigation continues.