Teaneck Senior Prank Leads to Arrests
Police say a high school senior class prank gone awry has led to the arrests of 62 students in Teaneck.
At a press conference school officials say they responded to a burglar alarm at Teaneck High School around 2:11 a.m. Thursday.
Police said that 62 students were taken into custody; 38 of them are juveniles and 24 adults. They are all charged with burglary and criminal mischief.
At least a dozen law enforcement agencies responded and found "extensive damage" according to police, who don't know how the students got inside.
Police Sgt. John Garland tells NBC 4 New York officers found urine in the hallways, petroleum jelly on doorknobs, desks flipped over and balloons throughout the building.""I've been a police officer 19 years, and this is the craziest thing I've ever seen," Garland told the television station.
News 12 New Jersey in a tweet described the school as "trashed" and "destroyed."
As police arrived Garland saw some students trying to leave the school while others hid in classrooms. Officers gave chase and "they were basically being surrounded by police officers and ordered to stop, you could see the look like a combination of fear and shock," he told CBS New York.
Crews were inside cleaning up balloons, streamers and graffiti according to News 12 New Jersey but Principal Dennis Heck says school is open on Thursday and students are being directed to the school gym according to the Record.
MORE COVERAGE:
- 60 Teens Arrested After Breaking Into New Jersey High School Overnight for Prank / NBC 4 New York
- Police: Dozens Of Students Arrested After Senior Prank At Teaneck High School Goes Awry / CBS New York
- 62 Teaneck High School students in custody after senior prank / News 12 New Jersey
- Teaneck High School senior prank leads to vandalism, arrest of more than 50 students / The Record
The Associated Press contributed to this report