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Three teens arrested in vandalism spree Tires, school windows destroyed Jaclyn O'Malley RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL 12/27/2004 11:47 Marilyn Newton/RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL BROKEN WINDOWS: Corey Miller of ABC Glass on Monday works at removing broken glass at Esther Bennett School in Sun Valley. Three teens are accused of breaking 86 windows at the school, causing $25,000 in damage. Three Sun Valley teens on Christmas break from school apparently went on an overnight vandalism spree, allegedly slashing tires on 19 cars and smashing almost all the windows of an elementary school, authorities said. Sheriff?s deputies Monday arrested two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old during their investigation into the 86 broken windows and $25,000 in damage at Esther Bennett Elementary school. ?This goes beyond vandalism, it?s almost like a hate crime because everyone feels violated by this,? Washoe County School District trustee Galen Mitchell said. ?I am brokenhearted and totally disgusted.? A school district plant facility director said the windows would not all be replaced when classes resume Jan. 3. He said special tinted and safety glass needs to be ordered. The school has been secured with boards. About 75 percent of the windows in the school were smashed. ?Parents are ultimately responsible for the actions of their children, and I don?t know where this came from,? Mitchell said. ?These classrooms are the teachers? lives and the children are supposed to feel secure there. For someone to do this, it?s unconscionable.? The older boy was caught based on witness descriptions. Deputies followed leads from the school and the older boy to arrest the others. Exterior surveillance video was reviewed. An alarm at the school had sounded about 2 a.m. Deputy Darrin Rice said detectives also linked the boys to several tire-slashings during the night in Sun Valley. The teens were booked into the Jan Evans Juvenile Justice Center on suspicion of burglary, destruction of property and 19 counts of damage to a motor vehicle. Their names were withheld. *************************************************************************** Last week, less than two miles from the school, the Sun Valley Jehovah?s Witnesses Church was vandalized at night, including broken windows, destroyed cabinets and chairs and paint poured on floors. Rice said Monday there were no suspects. *************************************************************************** Esther Bennett officials did not return phone calls Monday for comment. ?Aesthetically, it?s a mess,? said Charlie Hoppe, director of school district plant facilities. ?No one wants to be in a school that?s all boarded up. We won?t be entirely ready for school, but it will be ready to be occupied. We are trying to do everything we can." Hoppe said it appears the vandals used clubs or baseball bats to smash the windows. He said the alarm sounded when the vandals entered the school through a broken window. ?This is really a waste of taxpayer dollars,? Hoppe said. ?Twenty-five thousand dollars ? it?s so senseless.? Hoppe said this was the worst school vandalism case he has seen. ?Neighbors need to be vigilant and watch for the schools because the property does belong to the citizens,? Mitchell said. Secret Witness is offering a $500 reward for information on this case. Deputies ask anyone with information to contact them at 328-3320 or Secret Witness at 322-4900. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
