Police say they have arrested a 62-year-old Alabama man for allegedly poisoning trees at a historic site on Auburn University's campus, where fans have long celebrated big wins and hundreds gathered after the Tigers won the national football championship on Jan. 10.
The Auburn Police Division said Thursday that Harvey A. Updyke, of Dadeville, Ala., was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal mischief. Police allege Updyke deliberately poisoned oak trees at Toomer's Corner with a commonly used herbicide, applied in "lethal amounts" to the soil around the two trees.
The 130-year-old trees likely cannot be saved, officials said.
Auburn discovered the poisoning after taking soil samples on Jan. 28, a day after a man called a syndicated radio show based in Birmingham saying he had used the herbicide on the trees.
"The weekend after the Iron Bowl, I went to Auburn, Ala., because I live 30 miles away, and I poisoned the Toomer's trees," the caller told The Paul Finebaum Radio Show, saying he was at the Iron Bowl.
Calling himself "Al from Dadeville," he said he used Spike 80DF, also known as tebuthiuron, and the trees "definitely will die." The caller signed off with, "Roll Damn Tide."
Auburn fans traditionally celebrate by using toilet paper to roll the Toomer's Corner trees.
"We will take every step we can to save the Toomer's oaks, which have been the home of countless celebrations and a symbol of the Auburn spirit for generations of Auburn students, fans, alumni and the community," university President Jay Gogue said in a statement.
The use of Spike 80DF is also governed by state agricultural laws and the Environmental Protection Agency. The university said it doesn't use the herbicide.
The FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and State of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries are assisting city police and university officials with the investigation.
"We are assessing the extent of the damage and proceeding as if we have a chance to save the trees," said Gary Keever, an Auburn University professor of horticulture and a member of Auburn's Tree Preservation Committee.
"We are also focused on protecting the other trees and shrubs in Samford Park. At this level the impact could be much greater than just the oaks on the corner, as Spike moves through the soil to a wide area."
The amount of herbicide detected in four samples ranged from 0.78 parts per million -- described by Auburn as "a very lethal dose" -- to 51 parts per million.
"This herbicide is extremely active and persistent," Keever said. "It's very likely to be in the soil for 3 to 5 years."
Keever said the herbicide has a half-life of 12-15 months, and said according to the manufacturer, DOW, can inhibit growth for up to 7 years. He said that if the trees died and the decision to replant was made, the school would bring in new soil to make the environment suitable for growth.
Updyke, meanwhile, is being held in the Lee County Detention Center to await bond.
Auburn Police Chief Tommy Dawson said Thursday he does not anticipate further arrests, but he did not rule it out.
I've been following this a little, and I'm no Auburn fan, but I'm hoping they throw the book at this old fool. This is taking a college rivalry way too far. I read that a guy that poisoned a famous oak tree in Texas got 9 years. Between prison, fines, civil suits, soil restoration and the cost of the trees, I think this guys pretty much thrown the rest of his life away ...
On a side note, I wonder if vacuum excavation of the soil and immediately replacement with good soil could save the trees?
> Between prison, fines, civil suits, soil restoration and the cost of the trees, I think this guys pretty much thrown the rest of his life away ...
i'll venture to say it wasn't much of a life anyway.
poor sportsmanship personified.
what a pitiful piece of chite' this guy is. they should sentence him to 10 years hard labor doing reforestation tree planting. 5 days a week, 8 hours a day planting tree seedlings by hand.
and when he croaks, compose him, and spread it around the trees that replaced the ones he poisoned....
This guy is a retired police officer from Texas. That was revealed today by the call screener for the Paul Finebaum radio program who recalled a conversation he had with the suspect when he called the program.
The University of Alabama stated the suspect is not a season ticket holder and appears to have no connection with the University.
It also was revealed that his attorney declined the case after listening to the recorded radio call and hearing his arrogant, "I don't care if it's illegal" admission to the crime.
The call can he heard at www.finebaum.com.
That's what I was wondering PSR. The game was a while back so likely the trees have already taken in a lethal dosage but you would think that the way the poison spreads then immediate removal of the surrounding soil may lessen the chances that it would impact other parts of the park.
It's hard to imagine what drives someone to something like this over a football game.
On the upside, maybe this prevented the man from hurting someone since he is obviously unbalanced as it is. He could have just as easily been a shooter on campus.
> It also was revealed that his attorney declined the case after listening to the recorded radio call and hearing his arrogant, "I don't care if it's illegal" admission to the crime.
>
> The call can he heard at www.finebaum.com.
I saw that on TV last night...what an anus that guy is!!! There was absolutely no reason what so ever to harm those trees.
The Ducks should show some good sportsmanship and send Auburn some trees as a peace offering. 🙂
No big surprise here, sad to say.
90% of Bama fans (in my biased estimation) are great folks, and pull for Auburn when they play anybody but Bama (and select other SEC teams, depending on the way the polls are going at that point in time and who benefits from a win or loss, just an SEC thang), good people whom I can deal with equitably as an Auburn fan.
5% are borderline fanatical, but can rein it in in the interests of common decency. They may give lip service to the undisputed fact Auburn is the 2011 National Champions, but they don't believe it in their heart of hearts. I can respect that.
The remaining 5% are completely out of control. Being a Bama fan is all they have, and nothing is too much, or over the top, if it declares the depth and breath of their slavish devotion to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. I know of no less than 4 kids born in the past two years named Nick, one named Paul Bryant (first and middle name), and one named Paul Bear.
There is a reason Alabama coaches have State Troopers as bodyguards. It is necessary, and I know of at least two attempts at physical harm against Auburn coaches that resulted in a massive beatdown by large State Troopers.
I am only thankful he poisoned the trees and not the reservoir in Opelika.
Yeah, that is beyond sad. I understand the lab work (for the trees) is being done at MS State.;-)
On a lighter note 🙂 http://nmsn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/NCAA-investigation-of-Auburn-recruiting-Greg-Robinson-Trovon-Reed-021611
I expect no less.
