PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Pocono Township police have arrested a man they said vandalized multiple pickleball courts — all because he believed his summer had been ruined.
On May 15, Pocono police discovered that someone had cut the nets at a handful of pickleball courts at two different area parks, including one at TLC Park, where he was caught on video driving up in a white Hyundai Tucson.
Two days later, police said the same car was captured on tape driving into Mountain View Park at 9 p.m., just one hour after the park had closed.
Officials said the same man was seen on camera entering the pickleball courts. Police then released his image and asked for the public’s help in identifying him.
The man was identified as 31-year-old Saif Kaleem of Tannersville. Police went to Kaleem’s house to speak with him.
They said Kaleem admitted to the vandalism, adding that just suffered a pickleball injury at Mountain View. Kaleem told police he cut down the nets because he felt his summer had been ruined.
Kaleem is accused of cutting down one net at TLC Park, all three pickleball nets at Mountain View Park, and the Mountain View tennis court net. He has been charged with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct misdemeanors.
