Arrests have been made in the DeLand High School vandalism case, police announced during a press conference Friday.

  • 3 people arrested, accused of vandalizing DeLand HS
  • They are accused of breaking windows and doors
  • They face multiple charges including burglary of a structure

Brandon Carver, 21, and two juveniles are facing charges of criminal mischief, causing damage of more than $1,000 and burglary of a structure of less than $1,000, according to DeLand police.

Due to News 13's guidelines, this station will not name the two juveniles.

“A lot of us attended DeLand High School. We have officers that have children that have attended or are attending DeLand High School, so it really hit home," said DeLand Police Chief Bill Ridgway.

"Nobody was hurt but it felt like a violation. A place or worship, your place of work or your school, you should feel safe," Chief Ridgway continued.

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While at DeLand High School on the day of the break in, an officer interviewed a student who revealed that one of the juveniles told her that he and two other people caused the damage and she told the officer the suspects' identities.

Later that day, police were called to Ritter's Pharmacy after getting a call that suspicious males were allegedly trying to break into cars. While confronted by police, one of the males confessed to the DeLand High School break-in and revealed the name of the other suspects.

The three were arrested Thursday night after police interviewed them.

“At this point and time, what we’ve learned is the motivation initially was money, cash. Throughout the event, it turned from cash to vandalism," said DeLand Police Lt. Ben Moon.

The suspects are accused of breaking doors and windows, smashing computer screens and having a food fight in the cafeteria at DeLand High School.

"No student's safety was in jeopardy at all and so we look at this as another opportunity to review our plans to make sure anything else we can do to prevent this from occurring, we will do that," said Volusia County Schools Chief Operating Officer Greg Akin.

The damage to the school is estimated around $100,000.

District leaders said the two teenagers are supposed to be enrolled in Volusia County Schools.  

However, investigators said neither had attended classes yet to DeLand High School this school year.

“I am proud of the outstanding work by our detectives that led to the arrest of these individuals,” said Bill Ridgway, DeLand police chief, in a statement.

A similar incident took place on August 25 at DeLand Middle School.  No arrests have been made yet in that case but detectives believe the incidents are related.