Bubble Bandits still on the loose
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?We have leads we are looking into,? said investigator Derwin Adcock, ?but none of them have panned out yet. We won?t stop looking.?
The Middle Tennessee Surgical Care fountain and the Court Square fountain were the two that were vandalized.
The surgery center fountain suffered the most damage as cleaning the water and restoring the ecosystem of the fountain could cost $1,500. This amount did not include the cost of replacing the fish.
At the time of the incident, the fish in the fountain were feared dead. Once a de-foaming substance was added to clear the water, fountain caretaker Butch Bullen?s worst fears were realized.
?They were all dead,? said Bullen. ?I knew they were. Fish can?t survive that.?
As well as losing all the fish, the substance killed all the vegetation and totally destroy the fountain ecosystem. Fountain owners are debating whether it is feasible to place fish or vegetation back in the fountain. After the pH balance is restored, the decision will be made whether to put fish and vegetation back in the fountain, according to Bullen.
Bullen says he hopes an arrest comes soon.
?I don?t think people realize how devastating this is,? said Bullen. ?Once they get caught, I think they should have to do community service on fountains like the one they vandalized. Maybe then, they will see the devastation they have caused.?
Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact McMinnville Police Department.