ANOTHER UPDATE: 16-Year-old Boy Arrested for Damaging Fountain at La Grange Village Hall

A 16-year-old La Grange boy has been arrested for damaging the fountain in front of La Grange Village Hall, 53 S. LaGrange Road, on Wednesday night.

The boy was charged with reckless conduct and criminal damage to state-supported property (funded full or partially by state or local government). He was charged as a juvenile.

Contrary to earlier reports, he was the only person involved in the damage, said La Grange police investigator Ken Uher.

The village of La Grange released a statement Friday:

The Village of La Grange is extremely disappointed to report that the fountain in downtown La Grange was severely damaged during the evening of July 25 by a reckless act. As a result of this unfortunate incident, the entire fountain was removed and will have to be replaced.

Downtown La Grange is a dynamic and popular destination, achieving recent accolades such as “Best Downtown” and “Top Transit-Friendly Suburb”. The Village takes great pride in offering residents and visitors a vibrant downtown area in which to shop, dine and relax.

As a reminder, thoughtful and respectful behavior by all is necessary in order to preserve the welcoming and enjoyable environment that continues to define the Village of La Grange.

Previously

The fountain in front of La Grange Village Hall, 53 S. LaGrange Rd., was damaged at about 11:20 p.m. July 25 by male teens, who pulled off the top portion.

The matter is under investigation, La Grange police investigator Ken Uher said the following morning. Police are working on leads and the amount of damage is unknown, he said.

The broken  fountain has been shut off and removed. The pedestal base and plumbing remain.

The fountain bowls were damaged and cannot be repaired, said Ryan Gillingham, director of public works, on Thursday morning. "It is unfortunate," he said about the damage.

The village is working with companies that can provide a new fountain to get an estimate of the cost of replacement, he said.

La Grange police had received a call at about 1:44 this morning of someone trying to take change out of the fountain. A police officer found a 22-year-old man with an "X-Men" button the officer previously saw in the water. The officer warned the man and sent him on his way.

About the pennies and other change that was in the fountain, he said the maintenance department routinely removes it and gives it to the village finance department, which puts it in a miscellaneous revenue fund. The change amounts to "a couple hundred dollars a year," he said.