Police Identify Suspected Vandals
Vandals Target Local High School
ROSEBUD-LOTT (January 4, 2012)—The Falls County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday evening released the names of eight of the 10 students arrested Tuesday after vandals struck Rosebud-Lott High School, defacing walls with paint and releasing a wild hog inside a classroom.
The eight students who are all 17 or older were identified Wednesday as Brandon Lee Ratliff of Lott, Daniel Ibarra of Zabcikville, Lorenzo Ambriz of Rosebud, Cassandra Jones of Rosebud, Tiffany Holifield of Lott, Lorrin Wright of Rosebud, Diana Jimenez of Rosebud and Shana Harris of Chilton.
They’re charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, authorities said.
The names of the other two students weren’t released because they’re younger than 17.
Rosebud-Lott Independent School District superintendent Anthony Price said students who arrived Tuesday for the first school day of 2012 were gathered in the gymnasium for about three hours while baby oil and shampoo were cleaned from the floors.
"We're just very disappointed," Price said. "We try to provide a safe environment for learning and what was done here made this place unsafe for students."
Price said paint was left on walls and lockers and wild hog was left in one classroom.
Desks were thrown from the second floor down to the ground floor and destroyed.
Price said players practiced basketball drills Monday and a custodian was in the building as late as 10 p.m. and there was no damage reported at that time, so he is sure the vandalism happened late Monday night or very early Tuesday morning.
Price said the exact cost of the damage had not yet been calculated, but said it likely would run into the thousands of dollars.
School staff along with help hired from outside cleaned the building, Price said.
Price said in December a teacher reported having building keys stolen and that is how he believes the vandals gained entry to the building.
Price said when the vandals are identified the district will pursue prosecution.
