Independent Investigation Concludes Geotube Damage Was Vandalism

The Sconset Beach Preservation Fund (SBPF) announced today that an independent investigation led by former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis has concluded that the recent damage to the Sconset Bluff geotube system was the result of intentional vandalism.

Davis conducted an independent and thorough review of photographs, video evidence, and material assessments of the damaged geotubes.

“Based on the evidence reviewed, the clean, linear cuts are consistent with a premeditated and willful act of vandalism,” Davis concluded. “This was in no way an accident or the result of natural forces.”

To support the ongoing criminal investigation, a $10,000 reward is being offered for valid information that leads to the arrest of a suspect or suspects responsible for this attack.

The approximately 950-foot geotube installation protects the most vulnerable stretch of the Sconset Bluff, directly below Baxter Road. The engineered system is designed to absorb wave energy, stabilize the bluff, and slow erosion in an area that has previously experienced severe deterioration during major storm events.

Because the system functions as an integrated structure, intentional damage to any section compromises its overall effectiveness and integrity, resulting in a dynamic and escalating condition in which the magnitude cannot yet be predicted.

“This is not just damage to a private project, it is damage to critical coastal protection infrastructure that helps stabilize the bluff and public property,” said Meridith Moldenhauer, a representative of SBPF. “We take this matter extremely seriously and will continue to work with the Nantucket Police Department as they continue their investigation.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Nantucket Police Department Tip Line at 508-228-3626. Callers will remain confidential.