City officials close Beatrice park restroom, following fireworks damage

BEATRICE – The City of Beatrice has closed a public park restroom, after it was damaged by vandals. 

A police sergeant responding to the park Friday morning found that a toilet had been blown up by fireworks, shattered into several pieces.  A spent six-inch firework casing was found nearby.

The fixture was still attached to a wall, but the rest of the toilet was destroyed.

Police spoke to a campground host, who said one of the campers at the park saw something around 11:25 p.m., July 4th.  A witness who had arrived at the campground shortly after 11 p.m. heard a loud boom coming from the shower house at about 11:25 p.m. and observed smoke coming from the shower rooms.

As the witness rounded the west side of the building he observed  several people running to the west….then saw a smaller car’s headlights as it was leaving the park.  No suspects have been found.

An initial estimate of the damage totaled $700.  Officials say the men’s public restroom facility at Riverside Park will be closed for a week to ten days, to allow time to make repairs.