Vandals tag middle school with racist and profane graffiti
Police are looking for the suspect(s) who broke into Centennial Middle School early Wednesday leaving behind a trail of disaster.
According to the Yuma Police Department, officers responded to Centennial Middle School, 2650 W. 20th Street, at 5:18 a.m. on Wednesday for a report of criminal damage inside the school.
Police say they found several of the school’s buildings tagged with lewd, racist and derogatory comments.
They say the inside of the school’s cafeteria and adjoining facilities also sustained severe damage.
According to Crane School District Superintendent Robert Klee, “The suspect(s) were also able to gain access to the cafeteria where they did a great deal of damage with paint, not spray paint, but actual oil based paints. They were just thrown all over the walls and fire extinguishers had been sprayed all over the place.”
Police estimate at least $20,000.00 worth of damages at the school.
School officials expect to have the damages repaired by Monday, when school resumes after spring break.
“We don’t want our students coming back to this profanity, this graffiti. We want them coming back to a safe and secure learning environment,” Klee told News 11.
Police say the case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Yuma Police Department at (928) 373-4700 or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.
