Arrest made in Field of Dreams vandalism

A man has been arrested in connection with vandalism that occurred at Iowa's iconic Field of Dreams.

Austin Pape, 20, of Dyersville was charged with second-degree criminal mischief and reckless driving.

He turned himself into the Dubuque County Sheriff's Office Thursday morning.

Around 9:30 a.m. Dyersville police were called to the Field of Dreams on a report of vandalism on Jan. 23.

When the police chief arrived, he found damage caused by a vehicle that drove between home plate and first base and then traveled to center field.

On Jan. 24 around 3:15 p.m., Dyersville police were notified about a witness to the vandalism.

The police chief spoke with the witness who said she was in the vehicle with Pape when he caused damage to the field with his green Chevy truck. She told them that Pape picked her and a juvenile girl up on Jan. 22 at Casey’s General Store in Farley and began to road trip on multiple gravel roads that evening, according to a criminal complaint.

During the road trip, she said she noticed they drove into a field where Pape began driving erratically. As they circled the field, she saw the Field of Dreams sign and asked Pape where they were. He told her they were at the Field of Dreams.

Pape later drove them back to Farley.

When the police chief interviewed the minor, she said she expected Pape to turn around, but instead he drove through the Field of Dreams. He left the field when she told him to stop, according to the criminal complaint.

Pape admitted to police that he caused the damage.

The estimate for damage is at least $5,000.