Teens Questioned, Admit Vandalizing Park Port-A-Potty

Teens Questioned, Admit Vandalizing Park Port-A-Potty - The Missourian: Washington

Posted: Friday, March 1, 2013 2:45 pm | Updated: 6:56 am, Tue Mar 5, 2013.

Teens Questioned, Admit Vandalizing Park Port-A-Potty

Washington police questioned five teenage boys Thursday and all have admitted to damaging a portable restroom in Phoenix Park last weekend.

Detective Sgt. Brad Erisman said he was waiting for an estimate on repairing the damaged port-a-potty before submitting reports to the prosecuting attorney’s office.

All of the suspects are 17 years old which means they will be charged as adults in the case.

If the property damage exceeds $1,000, felony charges could be filed.

The incident that occurred about 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, was caught on a surveillance camera located in the park.

The video of the vandalism was posted on The Missourian’s website, emissourian.com. and attracted close to 5,000 views over two days.

Police Chief Ken Hahn said the video also was posted on the department’s Facebook page.

Police later received information that led to a student at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School. The student was interviewed with his parents present, Hahn said, and admitted to being involved.

Police then learned of the other suspects involved.

Hahn said the recent addition of surveillance cameras in the parks are already helping curb vandalism.

“We have been able to solve incidents of vandalism at the Fairgrounds and now Phoenix Park,” the police chief said.