SPRINGFIELD — Several more juveniles suspected in a string of school burglaries — including the break-in of a school for students with mental disabilities — have been arrested, police reported Friday.
Police in Springfield and Panama City have identified nine suspects so far in connection to the break-ins of seven schools spanning multiple jurisdictions and had arrested eight of the teens on a variety of felony charges as of Friday.
Isiah Grady, 15; Kywan Owens, 15; Capri Brooks, 14; Terry White, 14; Dontaye White, 12; Khyree Howard, 13; Jaylon Stuckey, 15; and Raheem Richardson, 13, have been arrested and charged with different roles they allegedly played in the burglaries.
Police estimated the total cost of damage and property taken to be about $50,000.
Several classrooms had been forced open when Springfield police responded Wednesday morning to a burglary alarm at Springfield Elementary, 502 School Ave. Police reported several electronic devices missing and damage done around the school.
Investigators with the Panama City Police Department said they simultaneously were working an April burglary of several schools within Panama City that appeared similar in nature, police reported. PCPD already had arrested two minors in connection with burglaries at Margaret K. Lewis, a school for the disabled at 203 N. East Ave., and Oscar Patterson Elementary School at 1025 Redwood Ave.
Springfield investigators teamed up with PCPD and identified and arrested six additional juveniles Wednesday evening. The suspects have been charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, dealing in stolen property, grand theft and felony criminal mischief among other charges, police reported.
Officers also have obtained pickup orders for another juvenile in connection to the burglaries whose name has not been released pending arrest, officials said.
“There are probably going to be more charges brought against them and more arrests made,” said Sgt. John Morris of PCPD. “We’ve spent a lot of man-hours getting these suspects, especially because of their disregard for special-needs students.”
Investigators recovered dozens of iPods, iPads, laptops and several other electronics during the arrests.
Penalties for juveniles found guilty of committing felonies can vary, depending on arrest records, from fines to probation to sentences of attending criminal prevention programs.
Morris said he would hope for the maximum penalty.
“Some were out on in-house releases and still continued to commit these offenses,” he said.
Both agencies are continuing investigations but indicated they have not established a link to gang activity.
Anyone with additional information about the school burglaries is encouraged to contact PCPD at 872-3112, Springfield police at 872-7545 or CrimeStoppers at 872-8477 (TIPS).