Nearly two months after an act of vandalism left historic stained-glass windows shattered at Meadow Brook Hall, a suspect was arrested and charged.
Police arrested 27-year-old Caleb Punches of Clarkston after receiving an anonymous tip, according to Oakland University, where the mansion is located. The suspect was arraigned Monday in the 52nd District Court in Rochester Hills.
The vandalism incident occurred overnight on Feb. 3; the damaged windows were discovered by staff the following day. The suspect was seen in security footage kicking one window and using an unknown tool to smash another, the historic house and museum released in February.
Punches is now facing two charges — one felony count of malicious destruction of property over $1,000 and one misdemeanor count of entering without authority, said Brian Bierley, the university’s media relations director. The suspect was released after arraignment and ordered to return for booking and a mugshot. As of Wednesday afternoon, Bierley said he had not been informed of when the suspect was scheduled to return.
“This act of vandalism has been a very upsetting situation for all of us,” said the executive director of Meadow Brook Hall, Bill Matt, in an Oakland University news release.
The mansion’s original stained-glass windows, installed when the estate was built in 1929, are over 95 years old and depict scenes of music, literature, entertainment, and drama.
“The cost to replace the windows has been estimated at $35,000,” according to the university.
With donations to the newly launched 1929 Club and a recent grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, officials hope to restore and reinstall the windows at Meadow Brook Hall later this year, according to Oakland University.
More: Meadow Brook Hall launches donor club to replace vandalized stained-glass windows
The estate has etchings and images of the windows, made possible by the grant, that will guide the restoration to their original design.
The 1929 Club is a philanthropic group where members commit to donating $19.29 a month. Created in response to the vandalism, the club is named for the year the estate was founded. Matt called this effort “a powerful answer to an act of senseless violence.”
Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Suspect arrested in vandalism of Meadow Brook Hall’s historic stained-glass windows
Reporting by Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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