Smith County Equipment Damaged

TYLER — The Smith County Road & Bridge Department is asking the public for help in identifying the people responsible for shooting road equipment last Sunday. Officials say a motor grader parked in the rural area of County Roads 26 and 246, north of Arp and Overton, was shot with a shotgun sometime during the night on Sunday. All of the switches and the electronic instrument panel, doors, windows, and seat of the machine were shot, County Engineer Frank Davis said. A stop sign was also shot and stolen. About 250 spent shotgun shell casings were found at the scene, as well as other items of evidence. A second motor grader parked in the area was not damaged.

Davis said the damaged equipment is 10 years old and would cost about $225,000 brand new. The county planned on trading in the motor grader for a newer model but will now have to repair it first, according to officials. The damage has been reported to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, and anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 903-590-2661.