Police arrested a homeless man they believe defaced the 9-11 memorial at MCU Park with white paint on Oct. 17.
Officers collared Elliot Baez, 58, on Oct. 18, under suspicion he smeared paint on the memorial sometime between 2:38 am and 2:55 am Friday, police said.
The man allegedly scrawled an incomprehensible message on the wall and circled the image of P.O. Moira Smith, the only female NYPD officer to give her life responding to the terror attacks. Det. Joseph Vigiano’s likeness was also defaced.
Police say there is no apparent connection between Baez and the two heroes whose likenesses he allegedly defaced.
The nearly 100-foot wall features laser-engraved images of the hundreds of police officers, fire fighters, and paramedics who died in the line of duty during the 9-11 terror attacks.
Prosecutors are charging Baez with criminal mischief, a Class E felony punishable by up to four years in prison.
