Teens arrested after vacant home sustains $100,000 in vandalism

Two teens were arrested Tuesday in a Spokane Valley vandalism case that caused an estimated $100,000 in damage.

The boys, ages 16 and 17, broke a window and entered a vacant, for-sale home at 10502 E. Ninth Ave. about 3 a.m. Tuesday, according to Spokane County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Deputy Craig Chamberlin.

“It’s the worst case of vandalism we’ve ever seen,” Chamberlin said. “It was terrible. The sad thing is they had absolutely no reason to do it. It was just something to do.”

The teens, whose names were not released, are suspected of punching holes in the walls and ceiling, ripping apart cabinets and destroying all the appliances, according to deputies. The teens turned the water on and let it run for hours, flooding the first floor and basement with about 2 inches of water, Chamberlin said.

“The deputy said when he got there the basement was literally raining from all the water,” he said.

The most recent report from the Spokane County Assessor’s Office values the house, not including the land, at $103,500.

After tearing apart the home, the two left, slashing the tires of seven cars on the way to a residence about a block down the road. They dropped items taken from the house along the way.

Detectives followed the trail to the residence, where a woman confirmed the two boys had been talking about the crime.

The juveniles were arrested at their homes Tuesday on suspicion of felony malicious mischief and residential burglary. They admitted to the vandalism, Chamberlin said, and were booked into the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Facility.

“They have a very long history with us and they are very well known to Spokane Valley deputies,” he said.

Chamberlin said he hopes they will be charged as adults, “but that will be up to the court.”