Youths arrested in school break-in
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Three juveniles have been arrested and booked into the Southeast Arizona Juvenile Detention Facility in regard to a recent break-in and burglary at the Safford High School.
Safford Police were called to the school Monday morning after a custodian noticed debris near a soda machine and a broken classroom window.
While investigating the scene, officer Brad Reynolds noted damage to several school computers and that a table leg had been removed and apparently used to smash the classroom window and a soda machine. He also discovered a silver and red Samsung AT&T cell phone laying on a table.
Reynolds took information from the phone, cross referenced it with the police's own records, and came to believe the owner was Kyle Herbert, who was known to be living with his mother at the Gila River Apartments in Thatcher.
Reynolds and detectives Glen Orr and Bill Wren went to the apartment complex and located Herbert. Also inside the apartment was Herbert's friend, Aaron Sandin, 17, of Benson. Police noted Sandin was wearing a T-shirt with "SHS FBLA 08/09" printed on it. Officers observed the shirt had a crease down the middle as if it had been left folded for a lengthy period of time. Both subjects agreed to come to the Police Department to be interviewed about the school break-in.
During his interview, Herbert allegedly told detective Orr that he and Sandin were walking to a friend's house at about 11 p.m. Sunday when they met up with Matthew Arevalo, 16, of Thatcher. The group began walking back to the apartment complex, and Sandin said he knew how to break into the Safford High School. The group stopped at the school, and Sandin opened the door, according to Herbert's interview. Herbert allegedly said he stayed outside as a lookout but entered the school when he heard banging noises and witnessed Sandin hitting a vending machine with a table leg. He said Arevalo was inside with Sandin, but he didn't see him hit anything. Herbert then allegedly left the school and met up with the other two subjects later at Wal-Mart. He admitted the phone found at the scene was his and said he had let Sandin borrow it. He added that Sandin was wearing the FBLA shirt when he met up with him at Wal-Mart and that he didn't have it before they entered the school.
Herbert was booked into the juvenile detention center for aggravated criminal damage, burglary and trespassing.
During his interview, Aaron said he had the shirt for some time and must have gotten it from his sister who previously attended school there. He denied being inside the school the night before and requested an attorney.
Sandin was then advised he was going to be booked into the juvenile detention facility and that he would have to remove the shirt. He then removed the shirt and threw it in officer Reynolds' face, according to a police report. Reynolds handcuffed Sandin and began escorting him to the detention facility. As he was being led away, Sandin cursed at Reynolds and dared him to take of the handcuffs.
"Take this (sic) cuffs off for five minutes (expletive deleted), and I'll show you what's up," Sandin allegedly said.
Reynolds removed the handcuffs at the detention center, and Sandin continued to be unruly. A detention officer contacted a sergeant to help control Sandin so he could be booked. He was booked on an outstanding warrant, burglary, aggravated criminal damage, criminal trespass and threatening or intimidating.
Detective Orr subsequently showed the T-shirt to FBLA instructor Marcy Barlow, who identified it as being the one missing from a drawer in her room.
Orr interviewed Matthew Arevalo, the third suspect, on Tuesday. Arevalo, who recently attempted to flee the scene of an accident in Thatcher, allegedly admitted to entering the school and witnessing Sandin and Herbert beating on a vending machine. He denied taking part in the vandalism and said he left the school at that time.
Arevalo was booked into the juvenile detention facility on a warrant and a juvenile referral was sent to the Graham County Attorney's office for review.
