Cottonwood Police arrested a local man on charges he stole items from gravesites at Cottonwood Cemetery and damaged headstones. Sgt Monica Kuhlt says they started investigating the thefts earlier this month. She says an officer made contact with the suspect, 42-year old Mark Benassi back on May 4-th, but at the time he had no stolen items on his person. A search warrant at his home located 40 items taken from burial sites at the cemetery. Benassi was charged with misdemeanor theft and criminal damage.
