Graffiti carved into petroglyph at Capitol Reef park

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Officials at southern Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park are asking for help identifying who may have scratched graffiti messages into centuries-old petroglyphs at the park.

The park says someone within the past week carved the words “Ivan Dallas TX,” “Henn/Hena” and “DALLAS TX” into a rock panel near Native American images of animals along Highway 24.

Park Superintendent Leah McGinnis says restoring the archeologic and geologic sites after graffiti is difficult and not always possible.

Officials say they don’t yet have any leads to find the person behind the damage.

It follows a major jump in recent years of graffiti and vandalism reported at national parks.

Park vandalism is illegal and anyone caught defacing surfaces can face jail time and thousands of dollars in fines.