An investigation is underway by Blackfalds RCMP, after a rural central Alberta school was vandalized during a large party over the weekend.
Mounties say two windows were smashed out of the former Satinwood school and the boards from its outdoor arena were torn down and used in a bonfire.
Officers say they were dispatched to break up the party near Joffre around 11 p.m. Sunday, and said roughly 100-300 youth were there - they were found drinking alcohol. It was also reported to RCMP that some fights between the youth had broken out.
Aside from the disturbance of loud music, RCMP said some people were lighting and chasing each other with fireworks.
Sgt. Whitney Benoit said there are many concerns when it comes to a party that size.
“It gets a little out of control and that’s what happened with the fire, and with the fire you get concerns about how dry we’ve been and potential bush fires that could have happened from that,” she said.
Another concern is how it affects emergency services resources.
“In instances like this it becomes a big strain on the police as well as the fire [department] that need to continually respond to it and try and deal with the situation,” said Benoit adding the situation could have turned out a lot worse than it did.
RCMP said the damage was apparent once the party had been broken up.
Mounties are now looking to identify who was responsible for the damage to the school.
Anyone with information is asked to call Blackfalds RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
Satinwood school was closed in 2014 and now runs privately as Genesis Protestant Reformed School.
