Saguaro National Park officials are offering a $500 reward for help finding the person who vandalized nine saguaro and other cacti on Jan. 22.
Park rangers received a tip that a young man in his late teens or early 20s was seen walking in a neighborhood near the King Canyon Trailhead swinging two swords, the park said in a news release Friday.
The damage to the cacti appears to be the result of a “sword, or other similar large, heavy, and sharp object,” Chief Ranger Ray O’Neil said in the news release.
Rangers found blood on the ground near the vandalized cacti that they believe belongs to the culprit. The blood was collected as evidence.
“The outpouring of concern from our Tucson community over the damage to the park’s cacti has been impressive and is appreciated,” O’Neil said in the news release.
“We have made progress on this incident thanks to information provided by the Tucson community,” he said.
Park staff asks anyone with information about the incident to call 733-5118.
