< Back to front page Text size – +

13-year-old arrested in Lynn school vandalism

E-mail|Link|Comments () August 26, 2010 01:13 PM

By Jeff Fish, Globe Correspondent

A 13-year-old boy has been arrested on charges that he vandalized the Callahan Elementary School in Lynn last weekend, police said.

Police received an anonymous tip that the boy was overheard talking about the damage, which officials have said included throwing paint on the walls, emptying fire extinguishers, breaking windows, and overturning desks and copiers.

Police found the boy and arrested him Wednesday based on information gathered from an interview, Lynn Police Lieutenant William Sharpe said in a statement.

"There wasn't an area of the school that was not touched," said the principal, Edward Turmenne. "I haven't seen anything quite this extensive in my career."

The boy was charged with delinquency by reason of breaking and entering with intent to commit a misdemeanor, breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony, malicious destruction of property of $250, and larceny from a building, said Sharpe.

Turmenne said he is pleased that one of the suspects was caught and that the mayor, superintendent, and cleanup crews working around the clock have come together to help get ready for the first day of school, Sept. 8.

"The community's really coming together," he said. "Our goal is to get the teachers back in by Monday. We're really pushing because we have to get our teachers here to get their classrooms ready for school."

The damage, which had apparently occurred over the weekend, was discovered Monday.

The incident remains under investigation. More charges may be brought against the boy, and other suspects may be charged, Sharpe said.