TUSTIN – A group of teenagers was arrested early Tuesday morning after a Molotov cocktail was tossed onto the roof of an elementary school and a burning rag was tossed into an empty classroom, authorities said.
Four teenagers were taken into custody in connection with the vandalism and suspected arson at Tustin Ranch Elementary as fire investigators looked into the possibility that the minors are tied to other incidents in the area.
Officers shortly before 2 a.m. responded to a burglary alarm at the campus, finding that numerous rooftop skylights had been damaged and that someone had attempted to light the school on fire, according to a Tustin police statement.
School security had spotted several males running away from the campus. Officers located three teens they believed were involved in the incident and took them into custody after a short foot pursuit, police said. A fourth juvenile was arrested at his home a short time later, police added.
The juveniles range in age from 14 through 16, are residents in the Tustin and Irvine area, and attend Beckman High School, police said. They were booked into Orange County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of arson, possession of an incendiary device, conspiracy and felony vandalism.
Two fire investigators were called to assist the officers. They discovered that a Molotov cocktail had been thrown on the roof of one of the school buildings, and that a lit rag was thrown into a classroom, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.
The teens had lighters and other substances on them, Concialdi added.
The damage occurred in a portion of the school used by 4th and 5th grade students, who were temporarily moved to other parts of the school while the damage was repaired on Tuesday, Tustin Unified School District Spokesman Mark Eliot said. Parents were notified of the incident by phone.
Maintenance workers were able to repair the six damaged skylights in one day, Eliot said.
The repairs cost an estimated $15,000 to $20,000, Eliot said. District officials plan to seek restitution for the damages.
“We are just glad that no one was hurt and that everything is back to normal,” Eliot said.
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