By By BEN RAYMOND LODE / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- A 17-year-old man who allegedly did damage to fences, the football and three soccer fields at Niles High School on Sunday is facing several police charges.
The youth was arrested on Sunday when he turned himself in at the Niles Police Department after the incident.
The police report said the youth allegedly drove through two fences and did donuts on the high school football and three soccer fields causing damage to the turf, the police report said.
Capt. Jim Merriman, Niles City Police, said the youth has been charged with allegedly operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, hit-and-run failing to stop and identify himself and malicious destruction of public property.
Merriman said police were notified about the incident at approximately 2 p.m. on Sunday morning.
He said when an officer went to the scene to take pictures of the truck, which was found lying on its side, two males in white t-shirts fled from the football field.
Merriman said damages have been estimated to anywhere between $5,000 to $20,000.
Niles Community Schools superintendent, Doug Law, said replacing the fencing will cost a minimum of $4,000.
He does not, however, know the costs of removing the damaged fencing, which is sunk in cement.
The damaged spots on the football field will be filled with dirt and packed.
The youth who allegedly drove the truck is a student at Cedar Lane.
Law said the student has been suspended pending an administrative hearing.
In other police reports:
James Parker Huffman, 38, was arrested after a police officer saw Huffman, who was going south bound on 17th Street, allegedly had a hard time making the turn, the police report said.
Huffman, who became aware he was tailed by police, pulled into the Clark Gas Station parking lot.
He was taken into custody and lodged at Niles City Police Department with a $200 bond.