NEWS RELEASE

On July 9, 2014 at approximately 8:15 AM, officers of the Fellsmere Police Department responded to Fellsmere Elementary School located at 50 N. Cypress Street, to investigate the report of a burglary and vandalism. The incident was reported by school personnel.

The investigation thus far revealed that person(s) unknown forcibly entered a storage room containing P.E. equipment and discharged a fire extinguisher. It is undetermined at this point what property, if any has been taken from the storage room as employees will need to conduct an inventory. It appears as if the incident occurred sometime over the Fourth of July weekend.

While on campus, officers also learned that person(s) unknown spray painted graffiti at various locations throughout the school campus. It is undetermined how much of the graffiti is related to the burglary at this time given that some of it is approximately two to three weeks old and was not reported until today.

Fellsmere Elementary is also a construction site and the new fifth grade wing is near completion. Construction workers have reported evidence of juveniles gaining access to the roof of the new building during the evening hours.

While on scene, officers discussed with workers and school personnel some precautions to take to reduce incidents of crime and will keep a greater watch on the school campus, especially while construction is underway.