STAR Academy vandalized

By: 
Jason Ferguson

The former State Treatment and Rehabilitation (STAR) Academy suffered damage that could crest $100,000 when it was vandalized sometime between Dec. 6-7.
Lt. Steve McMillin of the Custer County Sheriff’s Office said when a maintenance worker went to the campus the morning of Dec. 7, he discovered the vandalism, which was spread between three buildings: the administration building, maintenance building and a home.
The suspects broke into the buildings and went throughout every floor and “every room they could get into” and discharged fire extinguishers and broke windows, doors, exit signs, sinks, toilets, mirrors and water pipes. They spray-painted walls and  caused extensive water damage by turning the water on in sinks after they broke them.
At the large home on the southeast corner, the suspects went through drawers and piled things up in the middle of the living room and set it on fire before putting it out with extinguishers. They also dumped out a can of paint.
They pried open the door of the garage to the home and damaged property in there, including TVs and antique lamps. In the maintenance building, more extinguishers and paint were discharged.
“I’ve never seen this amount of damage in my career,” McMillin said.
He said evidence suggests multiple people were involved, and every avenue to identify the suspects is being explored. Those who did the damage did a felony-level amount.
“Whatever they could get their hands on, they destroyed,” McMillin said. “It’s just sickening.”
The state, which owns the building, has been notified of the vandalism. The state shuttered the facility which has thrice been auctioned, to no avail. All residents who at one time lived on the property have moved away, as required by the state in preparation for selling the property.
McMillin said the investigation continues and the state’s Department of Criminal Investigation is involved. No suspects have been identified.
Anyone with information on the crime is urged to contact the Custer County Sheriff’s Office at 673-8146.

User login