Two people have been arrested and two more are being sought by police in connection to Tuesday’s vandalism incident at Greenwood Community High School.
Jasmine Elaine Cox, 19, of Indianapolis, and Jared Steven Holmes, 19, of Greenwood, were arrested Wednesday afternoon on charges of burglary, criminal mischief and possession of paraphernalia, said Jim Ison, Greenwood police chief.
Police say Cox, Holmes and two other male suspects entered the high school through a door that was propped open near the band area around 12:44 a.m. Tuesday. Inside the building, the individuals discharged multiple fire extinguishers before leaving around 3 a.m.
The vandalism incident caused high school students to have an e-learning day Tuesday as staff members conducted a deep cleaning of the school and repaired damage, Superintendent Terry Terhune said Tuesday. Students returned to the building on Wednesday, and school staff members are also working to ensure all entrances are closed properly to prevent future trespassing.
As detectives began to investigate, they went through surveillance video at the high school. The suspects appeared to be high school-age, although they obscured their identities using face masks, Ison said.
Detectives then learned of another break-in at a Southport school that took place the same night of the Greenwood incident. The four suspects in that incident were wearing the same clothing as the individuals in the Greenwood incident, he said.
One of the suspects was identified through Greenwood schools’ surveillance video, Ison said. Police later served search warrants and recovered items stolen from Greenwood high school at a suspect’s home.
Thefts from the high school were not previously disclosed. Ison declined to say what items were stolen, pending review of the case by the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office but did say there were only a few.
The other two male suspects in the incident have not been arrested, but police believe they know who they are, Ison said. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Greenwood Police Department at 317-882-9191.
Cox’s bond was set at $4,500, and Holmes’ was set at $4,300, which they both paid and have since been released from the Johnson County jail.
