Blame it on the architect?

By Erin Hemme Froslie The Forum

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. - A high school senior told police he pelted his high school with a paintball gun so he could spend the day hanging out with friends.

Police arrested Douglas Haakon Jenkins, 18, of rural Fergus Falls, under suspicion of burglary and criminal damage to property, said Police Chief Tim Brennan.

Brennan said the student admitted to breaking into the high school early Friday and spraying the school's walls, hallways, vending machines and doorways with about 1,000 pink, orange and yellow paint pellets. White latex paint and maple syrup were poured down some of the stairways.

The student also said he broke into the school early Tuesday morning and took money from a locked office, Brennan said.

Police are still investigating to see if other people were involved, Brennan said.

Because of Friday's mess, school officials canceled classes at the high school for the second time this spring. The first time was for a bomb threat in March.

After hearing the details of why the vandalism took place, Superintendent Mark Bezek said he was relieved.

"I'm just happy to know there was no focus on any one person. It wasn't a hate deal against a teacher or the principal," he said.

Custodians found the vandalism when they came to work around 5:30 a.m., Bezek said. After police investigated the scene, the custodians attacked the paint with power washers and scrapers. Some windows were completely covered with paint.

Police said Jenkins entered the school both times through a locked door he forced open.

Friday morning's entry was the third time in the past week that students broke into the locked building, Bezek said.

On Sunday night, some students broke into the building and decorated the school's foyer with balloons and moved some furniture around. Because the actions weren't malicious, students were disciplined by the school and police weren't involved, Bezek said.

But the break-ins exemplify why the school district will ask local voters to support a referendum in the fall, Bezek said. The high school has 66 doorways and three floors, which makes it difficult to monitor.

"It's a nightmare to secure," he said. "What happened this week is a perfect example of what can happen here anytime."

Bezek said Jenkins likely won't face expulsion because school ends next week. Bezek didn't know whether the student would have enough credits to graduate with his class next weekend.

Jenkins likely will be charged Monday, Brennan said.