Orange PD: 2 teens arrested for breaking into, damaging Mahar

ORANGE — Two teenage boys were arrested after allegedly breaking into Ralph C. Mahar Regional School at approximately 1 a.m. on Friday and causing significant damage to a room.

Police Chief James Sullivan said the investigation is ongoing and the suspects’ names aren’t being released because they are juveniles. Speaking Friday afternoon, he said he expected the suspects would be arraigned in Juvenile Court in Greenfield or Hadley that day. The two will likely face charges of breaking and entering at nighttime to commit a felony, and willful and malicious destruction of property.

The suspects’ motives are unclear, according to Sullivan. He is not sure if they are Mahar students.

The arrest was prompted when officers Donald Hager and Kyle Johnson responded to an alarm activation at the school at roughly 1 a.m., according to Sullivan.

A post on the Orange Police Department’s Facebook page thanked the Northeast Houndsmen, a nonprofit made up of trained bloodhounds and handlers who help with tracking individuals, for its assistance. Specifically, the post mentioned retired Petersham Police Chief Dana Cooley and his hound Bleu, and Erving Police Officer Laura Gordon and her hound Ziva for their help with the investigation.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.

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