Vandalism Of The Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center

PANAMA CITY, FL – On the morning of August 14, 2025, construction crews arriving at the new Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, located at 705 East 14th Street, discovered the building had been vandalized overnight. Evidence indicated the suspects entered through an unsecured construction door and used spray paint found on the property to deface three interior walls. Workers immediately contacted the Panama City Police Department. 

Detectives and analysts began reviewing surveillance footage from the previous night. Nearby cameras captured two males entering the building at approximately 1:30 a.m. Investigators traced their movements to several locations, ultimately obtaining clear footage that revealed their identities. The suspects were identified as w/m Mason Peters, 17, and w/m Derrick Williams, 18. 

Approximately four hours later, officers located and arrested both suspects. Peters was found wearing clothing with fresh paint stains. During interviews, both admitted to unlawfully entering the building, spray-painting the walls, and discarding the cans. 
Both suspects were charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure, criminal mischief, and theft. Peters faces an additional charge of possession of methamphetamine, discovered during his arrest. 

Due to the nature and potential motivations of the crime, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney’s Office have been asked to review the case for possible additional charges or sentence enhancements. 

The Panama City Police Department has since implemented increased security measures at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center as it nears completion and its upcoming grand opening. 

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the Panama City Police Department at 850-872-3100 or to submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 850-785-TIPS