“At least eight Pell City High School students broke into the high school between 9-10 p.m. Wednesday and committed vandalism throughout a substantial portion of the high school,” said Sgt. Don Newton, public information officer for the Pell City Police Department.
Newton said the students threw eggs, tomatoes, flour and cornmeal and smeared the produce on the walls.
“They also discharged several fire extinguishers,” he said. “The estimated cost is at least $10,000 worth of damage and cleanup costs, and could be more.”
Newton said the students arrested included seven adults and one 17-year-old juvenile male.
Newton said Samuel McCloud, 18, Alexander Hopson, 19, Jonathan Grimes Jr., 18, Haley White, 18, Desmond Dawkins, 19, Jarrod Chatman, 18 Devon Jones, 18 and the juvenile are all charged with criminal mischief first degree and burglary third degree, both Class C felonies.
Det. Sgt. Josh Herren said he anticipates one more adult arrest on the same charges and the investigation is ongoing.
Dr. Bobby Hathcock, superintendent of Pell City schools, said the school system has not yet taken any action against the students.
“We are waiting to see what the police department does and will go from there,” he said. “We will do what is in the best interest of the school system.”
Hathcock said the start of school was delayed until 11 a.m. Thursday while cleaning crews worked on the high school.
“We had the cleaning crews in there Thursday morning and they were coming back Thursday afternoon,” he said. “School will be back to the normal schedule Friday (today).”
Contact Elsie Hodnett at ehodnett@dailyhome.com
