Teen charged in school vandalism At least 2 boys caused $50,000 damage to Mars Hill facility, police say

MARS HILL – In a crime that may have been aimed at a few local high school teachers, a 15-year-old male admitted Wednesday to smashing approximately $50,000 worth of windows and computers at Central Aroostook High School, according to a Maine State Police official.

It will take an additional $25,000 in labor to repair the damage, according to officials.

A local tip led troopers to the boy, who was arrested without incident, Lt. Darrell Ouellette, Troop F commander of the Maine State Police, said Wednesday.

Ouellette could not confirm where police located the boy.

The youth was charged with criminal mischief and later returned to the custody of his parents. Ouellette said his case will be reviewed further by the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office.

Central Aroostook High School has about 400 students.

Investigators still were looking late Wednesday for a second CAHS student, also a 15-year-old male, who was implicated in the break-in, the commander said.

Police obtained an arrest warrant for the second student, who attended school Wednesday, but left when he “found out we were on his trail,” Ouellette said.

Though two people have been implicated in the case, the commander said there may be more suspects involved.

The investigation began on Tuesday morning when SAD 42 Superintendent Roger Shaw reported burglary and vandalism at the school to state police.

The superintendent canceled classes for the day because of the level of damage at the facility. School was back in session Wednesday.

“It was an extensive vandalism case,” Ouellette said. “We found broken windows, broken glass from doors and some damaged computers.”

A baseball bat was used to vandalize the school, according to the commander.

Ouellette said police have not established a motive in the case, but it appears one or two teachers may have been targeted in the crime.

About 15 classrooms were affected by the vandalism spree. Only one outside window was broken to enter the building.

State police called in a team of investigators who conducted a search with a dog and processed the crime scene.

“We spent the entire day there yesterday and collected quite a bit of evidence, including DNA evidence,” Ouellette said.

The evidence was submitted to the state Medical Examiner’s Office for analysis.

Ouellette said evidence found at the scene showed at least two people were involved.

Police estimated on Tuesday that suspects had caused approximately $50,000 in damage. Ouellette said Wednesday that the school now is looking at a total of $75,000 in damage and labor, including $25,000 just to replace broken windows.

The investigation, which is led by Sgt. David McPherson of the Maine State Police, is continuing.