Saturday, June 27, 2009

Teens Accused of Vandalism

By Elaine D. BriseÑO
Journal Staff Writer
          Officers have arrested three teens suspected of vandalizing Barcelona Elementary in the South Valley, Albuquerque Public Schools spokesman Rigo Chavez said Friday.
        Chavez said police believe there is a fourth suspect.
        The three teens — Johnny Chavez, 14, Frankie Gallegos, 13, and Michael De-Herrerra, 13 — were caught running out of the school early Friday morning by APS police and Bernalillo County sheriff's deputies.
        Chavez said APS police went to the school on Barcelona near Isleta at about 1:30 a.m. Friday after several school alarms were tripped.
        He estimated the damage at about $30,000.
        According to police reports, the officers noticed broken windows on the west side of the kindergarten wing and saw the intruders walking back and forth in front of the window. Chavez said APS officers were waiting for deputies to arrive with police dogs when three juveniles came running out. They were arrested.
        Inside, officers found paint, juice, food and paper strewn all over several classrooms in the school's new kindergarten wing. In one classroom, paint was thrown on the white board and door as well as the floor. The intruders apparently took the items they used to vandalize the school from refrigerators and drawers. A fire extinguisher was sprayed into the hallway and in some of the classrooms.
        Chavez said the teens entered the school through broken windows. A flat screen television and DVD player are missing.
        The teens are being charged with aggravated burglary, criminal damage to property and conspiracy. They have been released to their parents, Chavez said.
        De-Herrerra and Chavez were enrolled at Harrison Middle School, and Gallegos was a student at Belen Middle School, according to the police report.
        By mid-afternoon, crews had replaced the broken windows and cleaned up some of the mess.
        The school's kindergarten through third-grade students will return to school July 6. The school uses a system that gives the lower grades 20 extra days in school.
       

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