Five teens arrested on suspicion of vandalizing Sikeston school buses

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Police arrested five teens Wednesday on suspicion of vandalizing several school buses over the weekend.

The Sikeston Department of Public Safety said in a news release that after a joint investigation with the Sikeston School District, three 13-year-olds, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old face charges of trespassing, tampering and property damage. Police said the 17-year-old, whose name was being withheld pending formal charges, is a former student at Sikeston High School; the others are students in Sikeston schools.

Six buses were vandalized by someone pulling the valve stems out of several of the tires. Someone also discharged a fire extinguisher inside one of the buses. The tires have been repaired, and the buses are back on the road.

The department said detectives also connected the teens with several vehicles being vandalized April 25 at Morlan Dodge in Sikeston.

The juveniles were transported to juvenile detention in Mississippi County. The 17-year-old remains in custody at Sikeston pending formal charges.