By Shawn Hogendorf, Correspondent 

Formal charges of criminal damage to property, fleeing police on foot and curfew violation have been sent to the Scott County Attorney’s Office after the Savage Police caught two 15-year-old boys spray painting electric and equipment boxes at Hidden Valley Elementary School, 13875 Glendale Road, on July 17.

At approximately 11:43 p.m., police officers were on foot patrol around the school because of frequent vandalism problems in the area. They observed two boys dressed in dark clothes walking around after curfew and when police identified themselves, the boys fled. After a short chase, the boys were taken into custody.

The boys, from Savage, were found in possession of large, permanent black markers, according to Capt. Dave Muelken. In that same area, Muelken said, the electric and equipment boxes had been freshly painted with the letters and number, “1, DME.”

The two boys are also being investigated in connection with other acts of vandalism in the area, Muelken said.

On July 16, at approximately 7:14 a.m., vandalism was reported at Hidden Valley Elementary School with the words, “Weed is good,”  “East side/Best side,” and “West Die.”

The references to “east and west” in the phrases of “East Side/Best Side” and “West Die” could be construed as gang related, Muelken said. Similar graffiti has been recently removed from Eagle Ridge Junior High School, 13955 Glendale Road, as well, he said.

Muelken said the officers could have driven a squad car down the path by the school, but by patrolling the area around the school on foot, they were able to detect a crime in progress and apprehended the boys without force.

“This is not the most serious crime, but it is good for the piece-of-mind factor,” Muelken said. “Parents and children are discouraged to use public facilities when these images are present for fear of gang activity. This is why schools clean up the vandalism quickly and police investigate it diligently.”

If anyone sees vandals in the process of painting graffiti, Muelken advised reporting it to police by calling 911.

 Shawn Hogendorf can be reached at shogendorf@swpub.com.