Pegasus vandalized at Jacksonville Beach

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – A white Pegasus in front of the Beaches Animal Clinic has been a landmark for a little more than 50 years, but it now has a different look because of vandals.

Clinic staff noticed the statue was damaged when they showed up for work Nov. 11.

"I would love for them to be caught and prosecuted because it's a lot of damage, and plus, people get away with too much, you know," said Dr. William Daniel, of the clinic. "I'm tired of people getting away with everything. There needs to be accountability."

Daniel said despite the repair cost, the clinic plans to mend the Pegasus.

This isn't the first time someone has vandalized the it. In fact, the current Pegasus is not the original.

That's what prompted Daniel to purchase a surveillance system, which is why he has video of the two young men damaging the statue.

He said when he first saw the video, he felt sick. "Truthfully, I just can't understand it," he said.

The vandals damaged the statue in the early hours of Nov. 10 and went back that evening around 10 to take pictures.

"These guys, you could tell it was 2 a.m.," Daniel said. "It's when the bars close, probably wandering down and just being really rotten people."

The repairs are expected to cost more than $1,000, which means the vandals could face third-degree felony charges, prison time and fines up to $5,000.

If they already have a criminal mischief conviction on their record, they could face an elevated charge of a third-degree felony.