At 6:45 p.m., Clayton police found the construction site on Amelia Church Road in disarray. Police think vandals entered the site earlier that afternoon and used a bulldozer to ram the building, turn equipment on its side, topple scaffolding and pulverize specially-made bricks. Also, vandals used the bulldozer to poke large holes in several construction trailers, which were also vandalized with spray paint.

“This is the largest act of vandalism in Clayton ever,” said police Chief Glen Allen. “It is pretty nasty. It is just terrible for the community that someone would do something like this.”

Town Manager Steve Biggs said the contractor would be responsible for the damages. The center was supposed to open next March, but Biggs said that the vandalism would “delay the opening schedule in a meaningful way.” An exact date for the opening has not yet been set, he said.

A $5,000 reward is being offered from the town for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the vandalism. Police have no suspects in the case.

Anyone with information should call Detective Andy Jernigan at 553-1599 or the police department at 553-4611.