Updated: 10/9/2009 8:09:31 PM
Previous The vandals who sprayed graffiti and dumped bleach on the field at Bearden High School left behind a paint can--and that led police to arrest three suspects.
The paint can was traced back to the Turkey Creek Walmart, which sold the paint.
There, Officer Doyle Lee reports finding surveillance video of Farragut students Mitch Kleiber and Tyler Crone buying paint and bleach.
Kleiber and Crone are 18. A 17-year-old minor was also charged.
Bleach had been dumped on the field at Bearden High School. Phrases cheering on the Farragut Admirals and putting down the Bearden Bulldogs had been painted on the walls, along with numerous drawings of male genitalia.
The three suspects are charged with felony vandalism. All three are now out on bond.
Kleiber and Crone are due in court October 26 for bonded arraignment.
Previous: Three Farragut students charged with Bearden vandalism
Knoxville Police have arrested three Farragut high school students in connection with the overnight vandalism of Bearden High School's football field, press box, and an out building.
Tyler Crone and Mitch Kleiber have been arrested. They are charged with felony vandalism. Both are 18 years old.
Crone is a defensive end on the Farragut Admirals football team. He is on indefinite suspension, as of Thursday afternoon.
Police also have also arrested a 17-year-old male minor for felony vandalism in the case. He is also a Farragut student. He will be held in the Knox County Juvenile Detention Facility until a detention hearing can be held.
Knoxville Police do not anticipate making any more arrests in connection with the case.
Principals at both high schools say the pranks and vandalism associated with their rivalry has gone too far.
"Too many good things come out of this rivalry: Second Harvest for one and other things come out of this rivalry that are beneficial to our community," said Bearden High School Principal Dr. John Bartlett.
The damage to Bearden High School in West Knoxville was done with spray paint, motor oil, glue, and even bleach on the football field itself.
"There was damage to our memorial garden, to our press box, to some of our athletic facilities underneath the stadium, to the back of the school," Bartlett said.
The principal of Farragut High School apologized for the incident. "Dr Bartlett as well as I intend on putting an end to this kind of stuff," said Farragut High School Principal Michael Reynolds.
Cleanup began Thursday morning. Repairing the field could include new sod. Early estimates of damage are $5,000 to $6,000, money the school principals say could be better spent on something positive.
"It seems like the dollar amount of the damage just continues," Reynolds said. "It's this childish notion about one-upping the damage that was done before which is just senseless."
Bartlett agreed. "People who take it upon themselves to go to another school and trash it, that's not right. It's not right for a Bearden student to do that or a Farragut student or anybody else."
The dollar amount of the damage is what makes the crime felony vandalism.
Per school policy, all three students charged with the crime have been removed from school pending disciplinary hearings.
Previous: School spirit gone too far?
Knox County Schools are investigating a case of what appears to be school spirit gone too far. As the Bearden Bulldogs and Farragut Admirals prepare to face off, the Bulldogs' stadium has been vandalized.
The spraypainted graffiti includes phrases like FHS #1, an anchor, the word "Admirals"--and numerous crude phallus drawings.
Knox County Schools spokesperson Melissa Copelan said most of the damage appears to be cosmetic in nature, with no structural damage to the buildings.
The press box, walls of the bleachers, the side of portable building, and a Bearden banner were all targets.
There was also bleach poured on the football field.
School officials estimate somewhere between $5,000 and $6,000 of damage was done to the school's facilities. Pressure-washing is underway to remove the spraypaint.
