By By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
August 25, 2001
Meridian police arrested two Meridian teenagers Friday in connection with Wednesday night vandalism at West End Elementary School.
Lt. Wade Johnson of the Meridian Police Department said a 13-year-old male and a 14-year-old male were taken into custody and charged with malicious mischief and trespassing.
Located at 3930 14th St., West End houses grades K-3.
School bookkeeper and secretary Ann Gordon said maintenance workers discovered the damage when they arrived between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Thursday.
She said they discovered seven classroom windows and two large office windows were broken but said she did not know if there was damage inside classrooms or if anything was stolen.
Johnson said the teenagers' charges in connection with the school vandalism resulted from an investigation into two automobile thefts and the attempt of another.
He said each teenager was charged with two counts of auto theft and one count of attempted auto theft in addition to the malicious mischief and trespassing charges.
They are not being charged as adults because they did not use firearms, he said.
Both of the stolen vehicles were recovered, he said.
The unidentified teenagers were to be transported to the Lauderdale County Juvenile Center after being processed on the charges.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3275, or e-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.