Two boys arrested in Evergreen School vandalism

Two teen boys have been arrested for breaking into Redmond’s old Evergreen School, a frequent target of vandals the last few years – and with plans in the works to make it the next City Hall, police said Thursday an upgraded security system caught the pair in the act, leading to their identification.

Officers received information Thursday that the school had been vandalized, said Capt. Brian McNaughton. After reviewing the camera footage, officers identified the two boys, one of whom broke out a window, went in and opened a door to let the other inside.

The pair were inside the building for about a half-hour and didn’t cause other damage, though previous vandals have sprayed graffiti and other actions, McNaughton said. The teens caught this time were issued citations to appear in court on criminal trespass and criminal mischief charges.

McNaughton said the city has installed “sophisticated photographic equipment” to identify anyone who commits crimes on the property.” It was last used as a school in 2010.

City Manager Keith Witcosky issued a statement on the incident: “Evergreen is a prized community asset that will be the future home of City Hall by 2017. If anyone in our community considers it a playground for vandalism and reckless behavior they are sorely mistaken. Our officers do not tolerate this activity anywhere in Redmond and all such cases will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”