Four male juveniles who attend Beckman High School is Tustin were arrested Tuesday afternoon after they allegedly tried to set Tustin Ranch Elementary School on fire, police said.
A burglary alarm set off at 1:49 p.m. sent school security after three boys seen running away from the campus, resulting in Tustin Police being called in to assist.
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Officers quickly arrived and, after a brief foot chase, three juveniles were taken into custody without incident, said Sgt. Andrew Birozy, the Tustin Police spokesman, who added the fourth male minor was arrested at his residence a short time later.
Meanwhile, a search of the school revealed numerous rooftop skylights were damaged and produced evidence someone tried to “light the school on fire,” according to Birozy. But no students were endangered and the school returned to normal operations Wednesday morning, he added.
The police spokesman described all four suspects as ranging in age from 14 to 16, being from the Tustin/Irvine area and attending Beckman. All were booked into Orange County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of arson, possession of an incendiary device, conspiracy and felony vandalism, Birozy added.
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