'They basically trashed the place'

The Daily Inter Lake

Seven vending machines were ruined, seven windows shot out and several thousand dollars of damage was done when intruders broke into Flathead High School on Monday night.

"They basically just trashed the place," principal Peter Fusaro said.

The intruders broke into the school around 11:30 p.m. Monday, he said, and left a few hours later. While there are alarms in other parts of the school, the southside foyer and cafeteria do not have burglar alarms.

The intruders shot seven windows with a BB gun. They spray-painted graffiti on the cafeteria walls and on a weight machine. They ripped a phone off the wall.

A car in the school parking lot also had its windshield smashed.

But the cafeteria's vending machines suffered the most damage. The vandals tipped over some of the machines and stole the money inside. The machines - each of which cost about $5,000 - were destroyed, Fusaro said.

"It was pretty much a senseless act," Fusaro said.

The cafeteria was shut down for breakfast Tuesday morning while officers from the Kalispell Police Department Major Case Unit processed the crime scenes. Half the cafeteria was still closed off during lunch.

Kalispell Police Detective Sgt. Scott Warnell is working with School Resource Officers Carl Brisendine and Doug Overman, along with Flathead High administrators, in developing leads.

Investigators are confident they will be able to identify suspects so arrests can be made.

"They have a lot of good evidence," Fusaro said. "We also have outside cameras. We have some video footage, and we're working through that.

"Hopefully we'll get a break."

The vandals apparently entered through the construction area at the high school.

Anyone with information about the crime is encouraged to call any of the following numbers:

. Warnell: 758-7795

. Brisendine: 751-3476

. Overman: 751-3778

. Crime Stoppers: 752-TIPS

People do not need to identify themselves to be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the identification and prosecution of the suspects in this case.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.