Hampden police investigate sugar-in-gas tanks ‘senior prank’

Hampden police hope to find out who put sugar into the fuel tanks of some Hampden Academy school buses Sunday night.

Sgt. Scott Webber said that the buses are parked behind the school at night, and every one of them had sugar in its tank Monday morning.

A note was found warning drivers not to start the buses, which suggests that the intent was mischief rather than to damage the buses, Webber said. It was still a crime, he noted.

Because of the time of year, Webber said, the incident is believed to be a “senior prank.”

This one was costly; in addition to delaying school Monday, all of the fuel tanks had to be pumped out and cleaned thoroughly to prevent the sugar from damaging the buses’ engines.

“Every once in a while, usually once a year, we get something that’s costly to repair,” Webber said. He added that last year at about this time, the serpentine belts on all of the buses were cut. That time, a phone call warned drivers of the tampering before they started up the buses.

Webber said police have some leads and are optimistic that they will identify the culprits.

Brewer police arrested a man after he allegedly shoved his girlfriend Monday afternoon.

Officer Jeremy Upham reported that at about 4 p.m. he went to a Wilson Street motel after a caller said a woman was heard screaming.

Upham said that after investigating, he determined that Raymond Mallory, 28, a transient, shoved his girlfriend and prevented her from leaving their room. Mallory also allegedly destroyed a stereo by throwing it on the floor and kicking it.

Mallory was arrested and charged with domestic assault.

– Compiled by NEWS reporter Isaac Kimball