MANSFIELD — It was an alleged drive to the basket Labron Hamner may live to regret.
The 22-year-old Mansfield man was arrested Tuesday night and charged with felony vandalism after allegedly driving his car onto the basketball courts at Liberty Park and damaging the two-year old surface by doing doughnuts.
Mansfield police Chief Jason Bammann said Thursday morning witnesses in the park called 9-1-1 just after 7 p.m. When officers responded, witnesses provided information that helped police identify the suspect, reportedly driving a silver BMW.
“Witnesses that were there played a big part in the identification of the suspect,” Bammann said.
“He was parked nearby and just got into his car and drove into the court,” said the chief, who credited the afternoon patrol shift in quickly responding and making an arrest.
There are two courts at the 577 Grace St. park. The damage was limited to one.
Police contacted Hamner by phone and convinced him to come to the police station, where he was arrested, according to the chief.
(Photos below were taken Thursday morning of damage to basketball courts at Liberty Park in Mansfield. The story continues below the images.)
Hamner, whose address is listed in court records as 127 Helen Ave., was arraigned Wednesday in Mansfield Municipal Court. Bond was set at $5,000 and he remained in the Richland County Jail on Thursday morning, according to online jail records.
Mansfield Municipal Court Judge Michael Kemerer was assigned to the case. The charge is a fourth-degree felony, punishable by up to 18 months in prison.
Louis Andres, the city public works director, said the park was busy Wednesday evening, including children playing basketball on the courts.
“There were 30 or 40 people in the park when it happened, including kids playing,” he said.
more coverage of the liberty park rebirth
He said cameras at the park also provided clear video of the vandalism, which he said will assist in the prosecution of Hamner.
Andres said the city would pursue restitution in the case, though he was not sure the dollar amount of the damage yet.
“Let the justice system play out and it will be up to the judge,” he said.
Andres said the city has been in contact with the vendor for the outdoor court to begin the process of seeking new sections to replace the VersaCourt surface, installed in the summer of 2024.
The new courts were constructed through a public-private partnership that included two primary sponsors — BODYARMOR & the Coca-Cola Consolidated Foundation.
