LORI PILGER / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Monday, May 28, 2007 7:00 pm
Police say they caught four teens — including one of Lincoln’s most infamous — leaving Lincoln High School early Tuesday after taking golf clubs to computer monitors and vending machines.
A custodian called police after hearing noises in the school at 1 a.m.
Police set up around the doors and nabbed them as they left out a northwest door, dropping their alleged weapons: a Wilson 5 iron and broken 7 iron.
Ricky Turco, 18, of 1411 E St., a 15-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy lay on the ground right away, with Powerade fruit punch, packs of Jolly Ranchers and fruit snacks from school vending machines scattered around them, according to court records.
A fourth teen, 18-year-old Craig Squires, climbed a fence into the nearby Dick Beechner Field to try to get away, effectively putting himself in a cage, Police Chief Tom Casady said.
“We were able to keep him corralled in there until we made that arrest as well,” he said.
Inside the school, the teens allegedly used the golf clubs to cause about $15,000 in damage.
An officer counted 55 strikes with the golf clubs that shattered 32 panes of glass, damaged two vending machines and destroyed five computer monitors, a 27-inch TV, hallway clocks, porcelain urinals and bathroom mirrors.
Police arrested Turco, Squires of 934 Plum St., and the girl and boy, both of Lincoln, on suspicion of burglary and criminal mischief.
Casady said police added another allegation against Turco and Squires for a burglary at the school May 18. Police allegedly recovered an iMac computer on Tuesday taken in that burglary in bushes near Turco’s house. Court records say a golf club was used in that burglary to get into the building.
Turco had attended Lincoln High but isn’t currently enrolled.
He gained notoriety for reportedly losing control of a car March 26 while jumping a hill, striking a tree near 19th and Stockwell streets.
One of his passengers, 15-year-old Megan Churchill, died nearly a week later of her injuries, and he was charged with manslaughter.
Turco was in court on the new felony charges Tuesday afternoon and asked for a court-appointed attorney. He told Judge Mary Doyle he didn’t have any money and had intended to go to Staffing Services for work.
Deputy County Attorney Amy Jacobsen asked for a $100,000 percentage bond because the crimes are alleged to have occurred after he was charged with manslaughter and was released from jail on bond.
Doyle set it five times higher at $500,000, meaning he would have to come up with $50,000 to get out.
So far, Turco’s posted $3,450 in bonds in five open cases to get out of jail, the most recent amount being $500 on May 21 after he failed to appear on a traffic violation.
Casady said he wasn’t particularly surprised to learn whom police arrested. It’s common to see repeat offenders.
In addition to Turco, Squires is set for trial in county court in June on an allegation that he possessed stolen property on March 16.
“Most of these young people are well known to the police,” the police chief said.
It’s frustrating, but Casady said police officers have to focus on doing their job well.
“What’s happening here is that this young man, Ricky Turco, has caught the eye of the news media. And he’s a good example of the phenomenon of someone that is repeatedly arrested.
“But we have hundreds and hundreds of people that are similarly situated,” Casady said.
Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com.