Scoreboard Gouged, AD Estimates $45,000 in Damage Done at Patterson Mill by Forklift

UPDATE (9:53 p.m.)—Police are looking for three male suspects between the ages of 13 and 20 after more than $10,000 in damage was caused on the campus of early Saturday morning.

Portions of two chain-link fences were destroyed—one near the school and the other around the football stadium—while a portion of the electronic scoreboard on the stadium field was gouged out by a forklift.

Patterson Mill athletic director and boys lacrosse head coach Jason Bellamy believes the estimate is low.

"I think it’s more than that. The screen itself that was damaged was purchased by the booster club and cost $45,000," Bellamy said in reference to the scoreboard.

In an e-mail to Patch, a booster club representative also said that the damaged portion of the scoreboard, purchased in September, cost about $40,000.

Harford County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Monica Worrell said the incident occurred between 1:20 a.m. and 2 a.m. and that the suspects were recorded on video by security cameras.

The forklift belonged to High Power Inc., contractors who are installing solar panels on the roof, though Worrell did not know whether a key was left in the vehicle. A High Power Inc. employee discovered the vandalism upon arriving at the school Saturday morning and called police, Worrell said.

Huskies football head coach Josh Mason was discouraged to hear about the damage.

"It’s disappointing. I’m sure it’s some kid. How do you have guts to do that? I would’ve never had guts to do that as a kid," he said. "I hope we are able to fix it in time for the spring sports."

Bellamy agreed.

"I’m just disappointed," he said. "We’ll be back to work next week to do everything we can to get it repaired and ready for the spring season."

This is the second incident of vandalism this school year. In October, vandals commandeered a Bobcat that was being used to repair sidewalk along Patterson Mill Road. The Bobcat was used to destroy another portion of a separate fence on the athletic facility, which has not been repaired, and drove down to the baseball field. The vandals then destroyed the backstop as well as the front and back door of a storage shed. The infield of the baseball diamond was also damaged by “doughnuts” caused by the Bobcat.

"I hope it’s not the same person," Mason said. "It’s too bad that someone feels like that’s something fun to do."

Worrell said anyone with information on Saturday morning’s incident should call the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Southern Precinct at 410-612-1717.