The garden contained native plants and seeds from Brazil, which one of the owners told police were expensive to buy and import.

MILFORD A Fall River woman is accused of destroying a garden valued at more than $2,000 while her mother stood by with a knife and hammer.

(The victim) stated that Ms. De Mirandas mother . was standing in front of her daughter holding a hammer and a knife, the arrest report reads, and appeared to be guarding Ms. De Miranda in case someone tried to stop her from destroying (the) garden.

Mariana De Miranda, 19, of 215 Thomas St., Apt. 2, Fall River, was arrested Thursday evening and charged with wanton destruction of property worth over $1,200, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Officers on Thursday evening found a garden in Prospect Heights in disarray, with plants uprooted and thrown about, a punctured garden hose and several stakes pulled from the ground. The owners of the garden were very distraught and crying upon police arrival, police said.

The garden contained native plants and seeds from Brazil, which one of the owners told police were expensive to buy and import.

An itemized list in the police report includes tomato seeds valued at $125; jilo, a type of Brazilian eggplant, seeds valued at $150; and hot peppers valued at $100, among several others. The list also included $1,050 of fertilizer, a $73 garden hose and $96 in plant food and fertilizer.

Owners also told police that De Miranda had driven her car into the backyard and tried to run them over when she left.

De Miranda refused to tell police much, according to the arrest report. She was stopped driving a car a street over from Prospect Heights, and did not have a valid drivers license, police said.

The report said the mother had not yet been identified.

Owners told police they argued with De Miranda and her mother, whom they said were neighbors, and that tensions had escalated in recent days.

(The owner) stated that she likes to live a healthy lifestyle which (includes) organic gardening and working out, the report read. (The owner) states that Ms. De Miranda and her mother are jealous of her and make fun of her because she has a big garden.

De Miranda is listed as having a Fall River address, but the owner of the garden identified her as her neighbor. When questioned by police, De Miranda said she lived in Fall River but that her mother lived in Prospect Heights.

Alison Bosma can be reached at 508-634-7582 or abosma@wickedlocal.com. Find her on Twitter at @AlisonBosma.

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Woman accused of causing more than $2K in damage in Milford garden - MetroWest Daily News