Ronald O. McMillian, husband of former Cardwell Mayor LaWanda McMillian, has been arrested in conjunction with property damage to the memorial tree recently planted in honor of deceased Alderman Vera Lee Langston.

The tree was planted March 23 on the day Cardwell Mayor David Bishop proclaimed to be Vera Lee Langston Day in Cardwell to honor her memory.

The proclamation and memorial were approved by the council in its regular March 5 meeting.

A witness to the vandalism told police he saw McMillian was seen causing the vandalism just after 5 a.m., and then went to Junior's Cafe.

The witness reported the damage to the tree included breaking the top of the tree and pouring an unknown substance around the base of the tree. The witness said the empty plastic container that held the substance was then placed in a nearby dumpster.

The police report filed Wednesday by Police Chief Irvin Harper said the container was recovered and sent to the SEMO Crime Lab for analysis of contents and for fingerprinting.

McMillian is set to appear in the Cardwell Municipal Court on May 13 for property damage.

Langston died Jan. 13 of cancer while serving on the Cardwell City Council. This April would have concluded her first year on the council.