MIDDLE SCHOOL VANDALS DESTROY SPENCER CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

(12/15/2016)
WSAZ-TV is reporting that Spencer Middle school students have landed themselves on Santa's naughty list and in trouble with police.

Spencer police say five students were caught on camera walking into Washington Park this past Thursday. Picnic tables were destroyed, strings of lights ripped down and nearly 100 bulbs were stolen. Lights were also missing from Heritage Park.

"That kind of thing soon affects your positive attitude about anything," Mayor Terry Williams told WSAZ. "It's too bad sometimes that people get their kicks by tearing up the nice things."

The destruction could end up costing the city $5,000 in damages.

"To do something like this on Christmas or around Christmas and just to do it for the fun of it ... it's basically in my opinion stupidity," Spencer Police Chief Gregory Nichols said.

The public helped officers identify the suspects. Police say they conducted interviews Wednesday afternoon and expect theft and destruction of property charges to be filed.