Vandalism hits small towns late Saturday night
BY SAMANTHA GUY
Mac’s Convenience Store in St. Paul had many displays and machines damaged or destroyed after a vandal broke into the store late Saturday night. There was also an incident at Erie High School were a subject was apprehended but there has been no official statement from Neosho County Sherriff’s Office as to whether both incidents were committed by the same individual. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL BEACHNER
samantha@hometowngirard.com
Residents of both St. Paul and Erie woke up Sunday morning to news of local businesses and Erie High School being vandalized late Saturday night.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21, Erie High School was vandalized by a 16-year-old boy. A pick up was driven through the front doors of the school and down the halls causing damage to doorways, walls, gates, furniture and the antique soda fountain bar from Richey’s Drug Store.
The truck was stopped at the entrance to the technical shops where the driver was taken into custody by Erie Police Department.
Just across the way St. Paul, Mac’s Convenience Store, owned by Michael and Angela Beachner, was tore apart with displays and machines being destroyed as well as the front door being broken in.
The same person from St. Paul was responsible for both incidents and is in custody at Neosho County.
Erie High School will have professional cleaners in today, Sunday, April 22 to try and assure there will be school Monday.
We will continue to update as more information becomes available throughout the day.
UPDATE as of 2:32 p.m. 4/23/18:
The teen began his spree at approximately 10:30 p.m. at Mac’s. After his time in Mac’s, the teen broke into many of Michael Beachner’s trucks before stealing one and driving to Erie to cause damage at the high school.
At some point it is believed that the same student broke the front doors of Farmer’s Bank in St. Paul but did not rob the bank.
The student recorded the incident at Erie High School on his Snapchat and the police were called.
This teen was a resident of St. Paul but was attending school at Erie.
EHS had school today with modifications to parking and student drop offs as some of the school is still being cleaned and fixed today, Monday, April 23.
In addition, the EHS FFA Banquet that was scheduled to be held at the high school Monday night will now be held at Tony’s Function Junction.