Police: $10K damage done at high school
By: Davy James – Staff Writer
Four 17-year-old seniors from South Brunswick High School who graduated Monday were charged Wednesday with causing approximately $10,000 worth of damage after vandalizing the school with paint on June 17, police said.
The damage was discovered at 4:50 a.m. June 17 by a custodian coming in to work. The damage included paint sprayed, rolled and brushed on all four sides of the high school’s exterior. The damage was done to brick walls, windows and glass doors.
The suspects also painted a storage truck used by the high school’s band, police said. The painted words included profanities and references to the Class of 2010.
"There were many parents and students who were frustrated that these kids were able to walk with their other classmates at graduation and stood on the stage with them on Monday," said police spokesman Sgt. Jim Ryan. "The entire class was frustrated that they were looked at as being possibly responsible for the actions of these kids, who left their fellow classmates to be questioned."
Surveillance footage showed an image of someone doing the damage but the image was too dark to provide police with a substantial lead. The video did provide enough detail to show the suspect was wearing a shirt that said "LOCKERZ" on it, police said.
Investigators learned the shirt was given out by a website called lockerz.com, which awards the shirt after a person has earned enough points. Police said there were a limited number of SBHS students who had received the shirt.
The suspects also left behind physical evidence, which included paint cans and footwear. Investigators received dozens of tips from angry students and residents about possible suspects.
"There was a lot of animosity in the community from students and parents who were outraged by what these suspects did," Sgt. Ryan said. "This wasn’t just a harmless senior prank. Pranks don’t cause $10,000 in damage."
Police said they broke the case when investigators following up a lead discovered paint splatters in one of the suspect’s vehicles. Investigators determined the teens had been out pool hopping at 2 a.m. when they decided to damage the school because one of the suspects was bitter over a recent problem at the school, police said.
The teens went to one of the suspect’s homes and obtained the paint from a shed. They proceeded to travel to SBHS in one vehicle and began to vandalize the school at about 4 a.m., police said. In the process of opening the paint cans one of the suspects stabbed himself in the hand, causing a deep laceration, police said.
Despite the deep cut to one teen’s hand, the four suspects stayed for more than 30 minutes running around the school applying paint, police said. Investigators learned the suspects believed the video surveillance would be of too low quality to identify them, police said.
Police said the parents of those involved were very cooperative with law enforcement during the investigation.
The school used its own personnel as well as outside contractors to remove the graffiti before a senior awards dinner scheduled for the evening of June 17. Most of the paint has been removed with slight traces still visible.
"These individuals’ actions are not indicative of the Class of 2010," said Chief Raymond Hayducka. "It was the senior class, their parents and members of the community whose outrage generated tips to advance this investigation. It is my full intention to make sure this community and our schools recoup any costs associated with this damage."
South Brunswick School District officials could not be reached for comment.
Police said school district officials were examining any and all recourse they could take against the suspects. Sgt. Ryan said a fifth suspect in the crime might also be charged as well.
The other four suspects were all charged as juveniles with juvenile delinquency, which would be considered criminal mischief if they were adults. Their cases will be heard in Middlesex County Family Court.