68°
Five members of the Darien High School football team are being blamed for extensive vandalism at New Canaan High School on the eve of the annual Thanksgiving football game.
Darien Public Schools Superintendent Stephen Falcone said today that Darien High officials have determined students there participated in committing vandalism at the New Canaan High campus overnight Wednesday.
"We have identified the five students responsible, and we're in the process of dealing with that," Falcone said today. "I can't go into detail about what the consequences will be."
New Canaan Police said the suspects are members of the Darien High Blue Wave football team, which will play the New Canaan Rams in the annual end-of-season rivalry game, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Darien. The police department was continuing its investigation.
A source with the Darien football team said the players two seniors, a junior and two sophomores have been kicked off the team and suspended from school for 10 days. Two of the five players were starters on this year's Blue Wave team.
New Canaan Board of Education President Nick Williams said the district will press charges against the Darien students once they are arrested. Williams added that New Canaan will also seek financial reimbursment for the damages.
Marks of the vandals' visit were widespread over the New Canaan High campus this morning, including at least three blue "D" marks outside the main entrance, near the entrance to the athletics complex and on the walkway leading to James D. Dunning Jr. Field. The clock tower at Dunning Field was also painted blue and the word "WAVE" was scrawled above one clock face. The handles of nearly every door were covered in blue paint and graphic images were drawn at handicapped parking spaces.
New Canaan Superintendent David Abbey said he was disappointed but thanked Darien officials for their cooperation in the investigation. "Certainly this is a spirited rivalry, but I can't remember the last time we've had something like this here," he said "There is no such thing as playful vandalism."
Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.
