Three teenagers caused $100,000 in damage to Florida school, deputies say

PALATKA, Fla. — Three teenagers are facing felony charges after they allegedly broke into and vandalized a closed school.

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Photos showing the extent of the damage were posted to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. In the post, deputies said that three teenagers broke into the closed Jenkins Middle School campus and left massive amounts of damage behind.

The Palatka Fire Department was first called to the school at 4 p.m. for reports of smoke and saw three teenagers running away, WJAX reported.

When police arrived on the scene, they found broken windows, damaged toilets and overflowing sinks. The teenagers are also accused of breaking security cameras in the building and discharging 17 fire extinguishers.

The gym on the campus of the middle school was also damaged, but because that property is owned by the City of Palatka, it is being investigated as a separate case, WJAX reported.

Though the teenagers are accused of damaging and destroying the security cameras in the school, the cameras did capture some footage. Still images of the suspects from the video were taken to Palatka Junior-Senior High School, where the teenagers were identified by a youth resource deputy, WJAX reported.

In the Facebook post, deputies said the teenagers, all 14 years old, were charged with first-degree felony burglary and third-degree felony criminal mischief. None of the teenagers were identified by name.

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Teenagers accused of vandalizing Florida middle school When police arrived on the scene, they said they found broken windows, damaged toilets and overflowing sinks. The teenagers are also accused of breaking security cameras in the building and discharging 17 fire extinguishers. (Putnam County Sheriff’s Office)

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