TWO ARRESTED IN VANDALISM AT OLD NOTRE DAME

Two teen-agers were arrested Thursday by Cape Girardeau police, accused of committing several thousand dollars in property damage at old Notre Dame High School on Monday.

Justin Lee Popp, 18, and Andrew M. Essner, 17, were both charged with class D felonies for allegedly breaking glass, doors and ramming glass doors with a 1986 Ford pickup truck, police Cpl. Kevin Orr said.

Popp, who lives at 819 Merriwether St., is charged with two counts of property damage. Essner, of 6701 County Rd. 621, is charged with one count.

The pickup truck is owned by Popp, Orr said.

Police made the arrests based on a call made to Southeast Missouri Crimestoppers on Tuesday morning, Orr said.

Police were thankful for the immediacy of the Crimestoppers response, but the success of the calls varies from case to case, Orr said.

Only one phone call was received by police offering a tip about the vandalism, but that was enough, Orr said.

Although authorities believe the two broke into the building, no charges other than property damage were filed. Orr said.

The two aren't suspects in more than 30 instances of broken windows in vehicles that were reported to police between Sunday and Tuesday, said Orr.

Vic Pierce was relived to hear of the arrests.

"I knew that just one kid couldn't have done all that," said Pierce, maintenance supervisor at the former school building.

The building, owned by the St. Vincent De Paul parish, has been used for church Sunday school classes, gym activities for the nearby elementary school and youth retreats.

No exact estimate has yet been received on the damage, Pierce said. Repair costs for the door frame at the old school's north entrance likely will be the greatest expense, he said.

In order for property damage to be considered a felony, the damage must exceed $750.

Popp was being held on a $4,000 cash bond, while Essner's bond was set at $2,000 cash only. Both were in custody Thursday at the Cape Girardeau City Jail.

The maximum punishment for a class D felony is five years in prison.