Three Schools Hit By Vandals; Two Teens Arrested

CATHEDRAL CITY- Two teenage students were arrested today on suspicion of vandalizing three schools with graffiti, bug spray and fire extinguishers.

The boys — a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old from Cathedral City — are students at James Workman Middle School, which was one of the three campuses where classrooms were vandalized, said Sgt. Dave Hatfield of the Cathedral City Police Department.

In addition to Workman, 69300 30th Ave., damage was done to classrooms at Landau Elementary, 30310 Landau Blvd., and Sunny Sands Elementary, 69310 McCallum Way, said Joan Boiko of the Palm Springs Unified School District.

Parents waiting to pick up their children at Workman Middle School were surprised to hear about break-in.

“You know that’s where your children are the rest of the day. It’s just their safety. When people come and do that, that’s not right,” says parent Sandra Santana.

Investigators believe the vandals entered two classrooms at Workman Middle School between Friday andTuesday through unlocked windows, Hatfield said.

The vandals emptied closets and storage containers, broke computer equipment and discharged fire extinguishers, Hatfield said. Private property belonging to a teacher was also defaced, he said.

At Sunny Sands Elementary, the suspects are accused of spraying bug repellent and lotion throughout a classroom, according to Hatfield.

The sergeant said pornographic drawings were found on the walls, and computer equipment was damaged.

Two classroom were damaged at Landau Elementary, where the teens are suspected of spreading fingerpaint around the room and spraying fire extinguishers, he said.

Students in those classrooms have been moved until rooms are cleaned.

“Education-wise it has not affected. Unfortunately their wondering why they can’t be in their classroom. Some of the kids we’re upset having their classroom damaged,” says Roy Hill, Security for the school district.

School officials were tallying the damage, Hatfield said.

Both teenagers were booked into Juvenile Hall in Indio.