Deputies arrest teens suspected of damaging Puyallup schools, arson at new house
Deputies recently arrested two teenagers suspected of vandalizing numerous structures, including Puyallup School District buildings and a newly built house, causing more than $700,000 in damages, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department announced Wednesday.
The teenagers, ages 15 and 17, were arrested Dec. 1 and are suspected of burning down an unoccupied house in South Hill valued at $624,636 and vandalizing five other houses, causing an additional $95,000 in damage. Deputies said the two also caused $4,675 in damages to two Puyallup schools and stole $1,300 worth of digital tablets.
Investigators from the property crimes unit identified the teenagers through fingerprints left at several crime scenes, deputies said in a Facebook post. Deputies said they were arrested for investigation of arson, vandalism and theft.
Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Adam Faber said the teenagers were arraigned Dec. 2 in two separate cases.
Both teenagers were charged with two counts of second-degree arson, six counts of second-degree burglary and five counts of first-degree malicious mischief in the case related to the vandalized houses.
The 15-year-old was also charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, third-degree theft, second-degree criminal trespassing, second-degree malicious mischief and third-degree malicious mischief in the case regarding vandalism at schools. The 17-year-old was charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree malicious mischief, third-degree theft and third-degree malicious mischief in that case.
Sheriff’s department spokesperson Sgt. Darren Moss said the string of vandalism started in late August and continued late into November. Photos of the damage showed the roof of the burned house had collapsed. Moss said the house, located near 6900 125th Street Court East, was a total loss.
Other photos showed the inside of homes the pair is suspected of vandalizing. There were numerous holes in walls, a shattered glass shower door and a broken wooded door torn off its hinges.
Deputies did not specify how the Puyallup School District buildings were damaged.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the teenagers had not yet been charged. It also incorrectly stated how many schools were vandalized.
This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 2:45 PM.
