‘Prank Day’ turns to vandalism at Clinton High

UPDATE, May 3, 2017:

Some 15 Clinton High School seniors have been suspended for their roles in pranks that escalated to vandalism Thursday night and some could face criminal charges.

CHS Principal Maureen Tiller said what began as a few pranks outside the building such as painting windows shut and putting syrup on door handles became destructive when the students entered the school building long after hours.

“Major vandalism occurred while students were inside the building,” Tiller said in a statement. “This included toilet paper down hallways, window paint on inside windows, chalk on brick walls, baby powder and glitter spread through the halls and syrup on handles of inside doors.

“One classroom has syrup and baby powder poured on classroom computers.”

No arrests had been made as of Tuesday afternoon, but the investigation was still ongoing.

Initial estimates from Clinton Public Safety placed the value of the damage at $2,200, but Tiller said a true restitution value had not been set and she is waiting to hear from the school’s technology department as to the value of the destroyed computers.

“Police are still working on their investigation and we’re working with them on it,” she said.

The students have been punished in accordance with Laurens School District 56 policies, she said, but did not rule out criminal prosecution, specifically for those who damaged the computer classroom.

Tiller said some media reports that graffiti left on the school walls included “gang symbols” was untrue.

“Somebody wrote “2017 gang,” but that was the extent of it,” she said. “I don’t think that’s gang related.”

May 1, 2017

Clinton Public Safety officers are investigating damage done to Clinton High School as a result of a senior “prank day” over the weekend.

No arrests have been made in the incident, but officers were attempting to identify all of those involved Monday evening, said Clinton Public Safety Chief Robin Morse.

“We’re still working on it,” Morse said. “We’re going to see who all was involved and go from there.”

Morse said about a half-dozen students are expected to be named in the event, which caused an initially estimated $2,200 worth of damage to school property.

Morse said the “prank day” for seniors at CHS is usually benign, but this year it got out of hand.

“It’s sad, really,” Morse said. “The school is OK with them having a little fun, then someone carries it to this extreme.”