Vandal Wreaks Havoc at Ouachita Parish Schools Maintenance Complex
By: Alanna Quillen
Updated: February 4, 2013
WEST MONROE -- Ouachita Parish school officials are trying to figure out who broke into their maintenance buildings and wreaked havoc inside.
"Apparently, he didn't steal anything, but he did cause a lot of damage," said Superintendent Dr. Bob Webber.
School board officials say around 12:40 a.m. early Tuesday morning, a man broke into the Ouachita Parish Maintenance complex and bus barn, located on Thomas Road.
Webber says the vandal set two small temporary buildings on fire, and busted the windows out on two driver education vehicles and the maintenance director's truck. The vandal also even smashed the windows on a new school bus.
Webber says the man didn't steal anything, but the suspect did break into a candy machine in one of the buildings.
"I don't think he was a real smart guy, just likes to tear things up," he said. "We had some computers that were valuable that he just chose not to mess with after he broke into the building."
This isn't the first case of vandalism at the complex.
"A couple of years ago, we had some buses that burned, but we never caught the person.
Since then, school officials put up fences and installed four security cameras.
"Maybe this time, we'll catch him" Webber said.
Webber says the security cameras on the premises caught the man in the act, and Ouachita Parish Sheriff investigators have a good image of the man. They've also collected his finger prints.
Webber says it's unknown at this time what the dollar amount of the damage is, but one of the buildings set on fire is almost completely destroyed.
One of the temporary buildings was worth $1,000, and the school board was planning on selling it.
The suspect is described as 6 feet tall and in his early 20s. An image of the man will become available sometime on Tuesday.
"Apparently, he didn't steal anything, but he did cause a lot of damage," said Superintendent Dr. Bob Webber.
School board officials say around 12:40 a.m. early Tuesday morning, a man broke into the Ouachita Parish Maintenance complex and bus barn, located on Thomas Road.
Webber says the vandal set two small temporary buildings on fire, and busted the windows out on two driver education vehicles and the maintenance director's truck. The vandal also even smashed the windows on a new school bus.
Webber says the man didn't steal anything, but the suspect did break into a candy machine in one of the buildings.
"I don't think he was a real smart guy, just likes to tear things up," he said. "We had some computers that were valuable that he just chose not to mess with after he broke into the building."
This isn't the first case of vandalism at the complex.
"A couple of years ago, we had some buses that burned, but we never caught the person.
Since then, school officials put up fences and installed four security cameras.
"Maybe this time, we'll catch him" Webber said.
Webber says the security cameras on the premises caught the man in the act, and Ouachita Parish Sheriff investigators have a good image of the man. They've also collected his finger prints.
Webber says it's unknown at this time what the dollar amount of the damage is, but one of the buildings set on fire is almost completely destroyed.
One of the temporary buildings was worth $1,000, and the school board was planning on selling it.
The suspect is described as 6 feet tall and in his early 20s. An image of the man will become available sometime on Tuesday.
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