Teens partied in school building

BENTON COUNTY — Two groups of young people may have found Spring Break less than enjoyable this year.

The Saturday before Spring Break, 22 young people were arrested or cited for minor in possession.

The party, with nearly 40 people in attendance, was “busted,” according to police.

A smaller party was on school property Thursday night. That group apparently had a master key to school facilities, according to the police report. Officers found a bottle of alcohol and a synthetic drug. One minor tested positive for alcohol consumption. Ice cream containers were all over the floor, police said.

Police found eight young people, ages 13 to 21, inside a room at the football field about 9 p.m. Thursday, according to the police report.

A police officer on routine patrol noticed a light beneath the door of the most eastern building at the football field, saw the door being opened and a female standing in the doorway. She then slammed the door shut, the officer said.

Upon reaching the door, the officer found the door locked and repeatedly knocked on the door without a response. Police called the maintenance supervisor of the schools. The occupants opened the door before the school employee, maintenance supervisor James Reeves, arrived and identified the keys as belonging to the school.

At one point one of the 17-yearold males slumped down and appeared to be unconscious. The ambulance was called; he was not transported. He and his 16-year-old brother were released to a representative of the Arkansas Department of Human Services after their foster parents refused to pick them up.

Eight youths were arrested and charged with theft of property and criminal trespass. They were two 13-year-old males, a 14-year-old female, a 16-year-old male, two 17-year-old males, Savannah Arenas, 18, of Springdale, and John F.

Greenwell, 21, who was wanted on a warrant out of Berryville. One 17-yearold was also charged with minor in possession.

High School principal Rick Neal said school officials would investigate the use of the keys and would change locks as necessary to protect school property.