Juveniles arrested in school arson
Baker-Zachary bureau
July 05, 2012
BAKER — Arson investigators arrested two boys, one 10 and the other 12, Monday night in the Saturday night fires that damaged two buildings at Bakerfield Elementary School.
Baker Fire Department spokesman Howard Ward said the suspects were identified through footage taken from the South Drive school’s surveillance cameras.
The juveniles, whose names were not released because of their age, were booked into the East Baton Rouge Juvenile Detention Center on counts of simple arson, simple criminal damage to property and criminal trespassing, Ward said Tuesday.
The fires destroyed an old tractor shed at the school and heavily damaged a portable building that was no longer being used as a classroom.
The fires caused approximately $80,000 in damage.
Baker police detectives and Baker Fire Department and State Fire Marshal’s Office personnel investigated the incidents.
School Superintendent Ulysses Joseph said the tractor shed contained old cans of duplicating fluid for equipment the school no longer uses, while the old portable classroom was being used for storage.
The buildings will be torn down, Joseph said.