Sixth-grade girls to be cited for school vandalism

RATHDRUM — Two sixth-grade girls will be cited for allegedly vandalizing their school's student garden at John Brown Elementary in Rathdrum.

Rathdrum Police Chief Kevin Fuhr said on Tuesday one of the girls was interviewed and confessed she and the other female tore out the irrigation line of the Cougar Patch student garden, pulled several plants and flowers, threw toilet paper on the school's playground and dumped garbage cans early Saturday morning.

Lakeland Joint School District Superintendent Brad Murray said he hadn't heard about the confession when contacted by The Press on Tuesday afternoon.

He said the suspects will also likely face consequences through the school district, but declined to discuss specifics.

The suspects were also caught on a school surveillance video. Damage to the garden was estimated at $750.