Campus police believe young vandals broke into White Bluff Elementary School with an apparent intent to cause damage and destruction.
“Nothing was stolen or missing,” said Savannah-Chatham County Public School System Superintendent Thomas Lockamy.
However, 20 computer monitors were smashed and desks were broken and overturned.
“It looks like they took a hammer and smashed the computer screens,” Lockamy said. ”That doesn’t sound like burglars to me.”
Police found finger prints and a large amount of blood at the scene.
“Someone was severely cut during the break-in because of the amount of blood that was found,” Lockamy said.
Although the school has an alarm system, which was set, Lockamy said it did not go off. Crews were on campus Tuesday checking the system.
Some classes had to be temporarily moved to the gym and cafeteria while crews cleaned up the vandals’ mess, listed in a police report as primarily occurring in wing I, wing II, wing III and in the school’s media center.
The district is bringing in surplus computer monitors for students to use until replacements are delivered.
“It’s irritating that somebody would do that kind of damage to a school,” Lockamy said. “This was not minor, it is several thousands of dollars in damage.”
School System public safety director Chief Ulysses O. Bryant Jr. and other school officials will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Wednesday to further discuss the incident.
The incident remains under investigation and the school system is asking anyone who may have information about the crime to contact CrimeStoppers of Savannah at 912-234-2020 or the SCCPSS Campus Police Department at 912-395-5536.
Three injured in West Bay wreck
A three-car wreck Tuesday evening sent three people to a local hospital and closed West Bay Street for several hours.
Savannah-Chatham police and Savannah Fire & Emergency Services responded to the wreck about 6:30 p.m. between Carolan Street and East Lathrop Avenue where three vehicles were involved.
Police spokesman Julian Miller said the drivers of all three vehicles were taken to the hospital. Their conditions were not immediately available.
There were no passengers in any of the cars, Miller said.
The Savannah-Chatham police’s Major Accident Investigation Team was looking into the incident Tuesday night that sent car pieces scattering across the road and into the grass on the south side of West Bay and required extrication by Savannah Fire to remove at least one person from his vehicle.
CNT seeks felons
The Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team reported Tuesday locating two wanted felons.
CNT had requested the public’s help Monday in locating Robert Holbrook Owen, 40, of Bloomingdale, and Robyn Whatley, 42, of Midway.
Owen was wanted for sale of a controlled substance (Hydrocodone). Whatley was wanted for possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine).
Initially, CNT said it believed Robert Owen was Ashley Owen due to Robert Owen providing identification stating he was Ashley Owen. After asking for the public’s help Monday, CNT confirmed Robert Owen’s true identity and said it learned Robert Owen allegedly used his brother’s identity.
Additionally, CNT said it has learned Robert Owen was recently arrested on drug charges earlier this month in Chatham County and listed himself under a false name during that arrest.
After receiving multiple phone calls from members of the public, CNT with the assistance of the Savannah-Chatham County police, located both Robert Owen and Whatley at a hotel on Abercorn Street early Tuesday morning, where they were taken into custody without incident.
Owen and Whatley are being held at the Chatham County jail and are expected to be arraigned Wednesday.
Additional charges are expected to be made against Robert Owen for falsifying his information to law enforcement.
Dean Forest closed to through traffic starting Friday
Dean Forest Road will be closed to through traffic between U.S. 17 and Interstate 16 from Friday morning to April 8 for construction.
Access will be provided to all residences and businesses, said Peter Nichols, Chatham County Commission spokesman. Traffic will be detoured to Chatham Parkway.
Benton Boulevard to be closed next week
A section of Benton Boulevard just south of Jimmy DeLoach Parkway will be closed starting Monday for resurfacing of the road.
The work is expected to be complete by April 6, barring rain or other delays, said Peter Nichols, Chatham County Commission spokesman. Through traffic will be detoured to Crossroads Parkway.
Compiled by Jenel Few, Corey Dickstein, and Marcus E. Howard