A man was arrested and charged on Sept. 10 after causing over $20,000 in damages to Trump National Golf Club by doing donuts with a vehicle on two separate putting greens.
It was later revealed the man responsible for the damages also broke into Taylor Swift’s home recently, reported USA Today.
According to Golf Week, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson has stated that 26-year-old Richard Joseph McEwan of Holland Township is being charged with third-degree criminal mischief.
The prosecution also confirmed that McEwan was recently charged with breaking into Swift’s Rhode Island mansion, where he allegedly took off his shoes during the incident because he wanted to be polite.
Police say McEwan was charged with breaking and entering and willful trespassing.
On Sept. 3 at around 5:30 p.m., police in Bedminster responded to a call from Trump National Golf Club, where an employee of the course reported seeing someone doing donuts in a vehicle on the 11th hole.
The employee told authorities that while standing on the fairway he could hear music, after which he turned around to see a Ford Sedan vandalizing the greens.
Damages were estimated at over $10,000.
The following Sunday at around 3:36 p.m., Bedminster police responded to a second call about someone doing donuts on the 13th hole putting green.
Damages to the 13th hole were estimated at upwards of $9,000.
Upon arrival, authorities were told by witnesses that the car used in the vandalism was a blue Ford compact car with a Rutgers sticker and was driven by a young male. Police also received a partial plate number.
After conducting an investigation, police were able to identify the vehicle as a 2006 Ford Focus belonging to McEwan.
With assistance from Holland Township Police Department, McEwan was later retrieved from his home, taken into custody, and charged with criminal mischief.
McEwan was reportedly later released and is currently awaiting a court date to be set.
The Swift Mansion Break-In
On Friday, Aug. 30, at around 5 p.m. police responded to a call from a witness, arriving at Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island beachfront mansion to find McEwan inside not wearing any shoes.
McEwan told officers that he took his shoes off at the door because he wanted “to be polite” while searching for the pop star in her home, reported The Westerly Sun.
He was later charged with breaking and entering a home without the owner’s consent, and willful trespassing.
