Some 30 seniors caught vandalizing Havre High School days before graduation

Havre police say that, late Monday evening, a group of around 30 Havre High School seniors were caught on security cameras trespassing into the school building and vandalizing it, plugging toilets and drains, smearing the cameras and generally making a mess of the floors.

Havre High School Principal Ed Norman and Superintendent Craig Mueller were not available for comment by printing deadline this morning.

Havre Police Captain Aaron Wittmer said the matter is still being investigated, but investigators think the students got their hands on a fob that allowed them to access the building where security cameras recorded their activities.

Wittmer said the department hasn’t received the final estimate of the damages but he suspects it is between one and two thousand dollars worth.

He said most, if not all of them, have been identified, and they could be charged with burglary, a felony, and if the cost of their criminal mischief exceeds $1,500 that would become a felony as well, on top of theft.

“It can be a pretty serious deal,” he said.

Wittmer said the suspects spent about 90 minutes in the building throwing toilet paper and paper towels around, plugging toilets and clogging drains with cereal.

He also said plumbers found watermelon and other fruit stuffed into the plumbing system.

He said the suspects also stacked more than 50 tires in front of the school’s main entrance.

Whether the suspects will be charge remains up to the school, Wittmer said.