They were carrying black, yellow, white and green paint. Many of them were dressed all in black. They were teenagers, out late when they should have been home, likely taking a senior prank way too far.
Now, the 21 teens are facing felony charges for allegedly vandalizing East Paulding High School in Dallas in a pre-dawn stunt. Police said Tuesday that more arrests are likely.
The students also could face suspension or expulsion, according to Paulding County School District policy.
A passer-by called police early Sunday after spotting dozens of teens spray-painting buildings at the school, Cpl. Ashley Henson with the Paulding County Sheriff's Office said. When deputies arrived shortly before 4 a.m., the youths scattered, he said.
But significant damage had been done, police said. Buildings, roads, signs, two county-owned vehicles and the large brick entranceway to a nearby subdivision were defaced, leaving county workers to clean up the mess.
By Tuesday afternoon, much of the damage had been erased, very different from what deputies initially found at the school, according to the incident report obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
"All buildings were spray painted to include windows," a deputy wrote in the report. "Access was made to the roof where it was also painted. Chairs, tables and benches were thrown out into the parking lot and several vehicles spray painted."
Most markings read "Seniors 2012" and "YOLO" (you only live once), but some of the messages were explicit in nature, according to deputies. Some teens admitted what they had done, but others initially denied it, despite the mud and paint on their clothes, police said.
It may be next week before school officials will know how much the damage will cost to repair, Brian Otott, associate superintendent, said.
Because government-owned buildings were targeted, all of those arrested were charged with criminal interference with government property, Henson said.
"Anytime someone damages government property, it is a felony regardless of the extent of the damages," he said.
All of those arrested were granted signature bonds, meaning most were released back to their parents.
On Tuesday, Henson announced two additional arrests. Most, though not all, of those believed to have been involved in the prank were students, police said.
For those charged who attend a Paulding County school, the alleged crime is considered a Level 1 offense, according to the school board's policy. Punishment can range from in-school suspension to referral to a disciplinary tribunal for long-term suspension or expulsion from school, the policy states.
Copyright 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
