Vandals Cause $25K in Damage to West Hills Park, High School

West Hills Park on Mast Boulevard, as well as West Hills High School, were the targets of vandalism in the East County

A group of four suspected teenage vandals were arrested in Santee last week for causing more than $25,000 worth of damage to a park and high school, including uprooting trees and shattering windows.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said four young men – three minors and 18-year-old Daniel Johnson, of Santee – allegedly vandalized West Hills Park and West Hills High School on Mast Boulevard on Friday.

At around 4:20 a.m., a citizen called deputies to report the suspects kicking the door of a concession stand at the park. When deputies arrived, they discovered substantial vandalism at the park, including broken signs, wires pulled out of electrical boxes and the door to the concession stand that had been forced open.

There was also paint spread around the park, officials said.

Further investigation led deputies to discover vandalism at West Hills High School, which is right next to the community park. There, several windows had been shattered and lights had been broken. Officials said vandals had also uprooted trees on campus, burned trash in a can and had thrown a brick through the windshield of a school vehicle.

According to the sheriff’s department, the damage at both locations was estimated at more than $25,000.

Deputies detained four teenagers near the park who matched the description of the suspects seen trying to break into the concession stand. The four young men had paint on their clothing, deputies said, which matched the paint used to vandalize the park.

The suspects were taken into custody and charged with vandalism, burglary and arson.

Johnson was booked into San Diego Central Jail and is expected to appear in court Tuesday.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on this case should contact the sheriff’s department at (858) 565-5200 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
 

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