Four San Diego students have been arrested for allegedly vandalizing their school so badly that classes were cancelled for a week while crews tackled repairs costing more than $40,000.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO) announced Tuesday that four suspects – three boys and one girl between the ages of 16 and 17 – were taken into custody and booked into Juvenile Hall for felony vandalism charges linked to the defacement of Warner Springs High School on CA-79 in Warner Springs, a community located approximately 65 northeast of downtown San Diego.
The suspects are students at the high school, officials said.
According to investigators, between May 1 and May 3, a group of suspects trashed the campus, vandalizing several buildings, offices and classrooms. Some of the damage included broken windows, graffiti and material discharged from a fire extinguisher inside the buildings. The SDSO said repairs and restoration costs to the school were estimated at more than $40,000.
As a result of the extensive vandalism and subsequent clean-up efforts and repairs, the school’s entire K-12 complex had to be closed for one week.
On Monday, a School Resource Deputy at the high school and other SDSO deputies arrested four students believed to be responsible for the vandalism. Due to the ages, the names of the minors were not released. Investigators also have not outlined a possible motive for the vandalism.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters can choose to remain anonymous.
