Man sought for spray-painting memorial gate

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Authorities looked Monday for a man who was seen spraying graffiti on one of the bronze gates at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.<br><br>Kari Watkins, executive director of the

Monday, June 26th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Authorities looked Monday for a man who was seen spraying graffiti on one of the bronze gates at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

Kari Watkins, executive director of the memorial, said the man was spotted by two visitors shortly before midnight Sunday. They
chased him a short distance, then notified a guard who called the police, Watkins said.

By 3 a.m., memorial workers had the graffiti removed from the outside of the west gate. Watkins said a bronze patina suffered
permanent damage.

"Any time you paint on bronze, there's can be damage," she said, although she said it is difficult to notice where the spray-painting occurred.

Watkins said the person responsible, if convicted, could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine, or both, for vandalizing federal
property. She said memorial officials would seek to prosecute to the fullest extent possible.

"We absolutely cannot and will not tolerate any kind of vandalism on that site," she said.