Teaneck High School: 62 Students Arrested For Senior Prank

Sixty-two Teaneck high school students have been arrested as a result of senior prank gone wild. According to Fox News, police arrested 62 students from Teaneck high school in New Jersey early Thursday morning.

Reports state that police responded to a burglar alarm at the Teaneck high school at two am Thursday morning where they found dozens of students inside. According to CBS News, the students allegedly were taking part in a senior class prank which involved urinating in hallways, greasing doorknobs with petroleum jelly and taping hot dogs to lockers. Police reportedly also “found desks flipped over, chairs broken, graffiti on the walls, silly string on the floors and balloons throughout the building.”

Police stated that they could see many students inside the high school before they even entered, so police from more than a dozen neighboring towns and county law enforcement officers were called to help.

Acting Police Chief Robert Carney told reporters that the majority of the students involved in the prank were caught though he did say that “it is possible that a few got away.” Senior pranks are nothing new, so when students claimed that they were in the building and taking part in the “annual tradition” it didn’t surprise officers, though Carney said that the pranks are not usually as involved as this. While some students found the situation funny, according to CBS News, Sargent John Garland wasn’t laughing.

“If this was a senior class prank, I just don’t believe that a lot of them realize the seriousness of it as far as breaking into the building,” said Garland. “That’s a burglary and I don’t think they understand that. It’s a very serious offense.”

NBC News reported that 38 of the students arrested where juveniles and therefore released to their parents, though the remaining were above the age of 18 and were reportedly charged with burglary and criminal mischief.

“I’ve been a police officer 19 years, and this is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen,” said Garland. “They’re learning the hard way that it’s not too funny. They’re all in some pretty serious trouble.”

According to NorthJersey.com, Principal Dennis Heck reportedly distributed a memo to parents that stated that he was “deeply hurt and disappointed to see how our ‘home away from home’ had been treated. Fortunately, there were very few instances of blatant disrespect.” The report continued on to state that all those involved could be facing trespassing charges in municipal court both those charged as juveniles and adults.

“In both cases, probably there will be a probationary period imposed whether they are adults or juveniles,” said County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli. “We’re looking at community service and how many hours will be up to the individual judge.”

Students of Teaneck High School have said that the actions of these students don’t reflect the student body as a whole. Tristan Anderson, 17, knew many of the students arrested and told NorthJersey.com that they all made a mistake. “This does not reflect on Teaneck High School. These are good kids, passionate about what they do.”

Barabara Pinsak, the school superintendent, said in a statement that the school is still considering the consequences it will impose on the students arrested.

[Image via Wikimedia Commons]