2 charged in connection with Hastings soccer field vandalism

HASTINGS, Minn. (FOX 9) - Two men have been charged after allegedly vandalizing soccer fields in Hastings, Minn. late Sunday night, according to the Dakota County Attorney.

Edward Mears, 26 and Asa Soine, 27, of Hastings both face one criminal damage to property charge in connection with damaging the fields at the Veterans Athletic Complex.

Monday morning, crews discovered extensive damage at the fields after a vehicle appeared to have made donuts on the wet, soft grass.

The damage was estimated at $137,000 to replace the sod on three different soccer fields. A handicap parking sign had also been run over by a vehicle.

Just after midnight, a Dakota County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a vehicle for a DWI. The driver was identified as Soine and the passenger Mears.

The deputy also noticed fresh mud dripping off the vehicle.

Video from a business close to the athletic complex showed a vehicle similar to Soine’s traveling on the road to the complex just after 10 p.m. Sunday night. More surveillance video on the other side of the complex showed the vehicle driving down a walking path at 11:40 p.m.

In court Friday afternoon, bail for Mears and Soine was set at $100,000 without conditions. Both men are due back in court in May.