Two men sought by national park officials who may have knowledge of recent vandalism along a popular Tucson hiking trail came forward Tuesday.
The men “are cooperating fully” with authorities, said Andy Fisher, a Saguaro National Park spokeswoman.
“I don’t know yet how they were involved,” Fisher said.
In a second case of vandalism this month, at least one saguaro was knocked over and cut in half and a couple of barrel cacti and a palo verde tree were hacked up along the Douglas Spring Trail in Saguaro National Park East, said Fisher.
The cacti and tree were cut up sometime late Thursday night or early Friday morning, she said. She is doubtful the saguaro and barrel cacti will survive.
The park service released surveillance photos following the latest incident showing the two men. The photos appear as if they were taken at night.
Earlier this month, vandals spray-painted several saguaros and boulders along the same trail.
Because the vandalism occurred in a national park, the person or people responsible would be charged with federal crimes if caught, Fisher said.
