Local

East Paulding High School vandalism caught on tape

Surveillance footage shows vandals running from building to building at East Paulding High School causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Cameras all over the school's campus captured grainy video as dozens of people, many of them seniors at the school, emblazoned "seniors" and "2012" on any available surface using spray paint.

The senior prank took place during the early-morning hours on Sunday, March 11.

"There's not a good prank. We encourage all of our seniors, all students, to think before they act," Brian Otott of the Paulding County School District said.

The school district gave Channel 2's Michael Buczyner a copy of the video, which shows students wearing masks to hide their identity.

One camera shows two vandals spray painting a wall on the side of the school. A camera in the front of the school captured at least eight people walking around the parking lot, then three break off and spray paint a county-owned truck parked at the school. Another camera captures two students picking up and flipping over park benches onto the road.

"We hope this is a learning experience, that all of them realize that they think prior to acting," Otott said.

Graffiti tags were left on more than 100 different locations across the campus.

Deputies arrested and charged 24 people in connection to the vandalism.

The county said it cost $7,500 to clean up the mess left behind.

"Any tax dollars that's spent, we're accountable for. And from our perspective, restitution would be something we're interested in," Otott said.

The associate superintendent said the school will meet with students and parents this week to discuss punishments for the students involved.

The school did not say if the students are still enrolled.

DALLAS, Ga. — http://bcove.me/02lsr71j