2 Men Arrested Over $300,000 School Fire

Los Angeles Unified School District officials said Monday that two young men had been arrested in connection with a recent fire and burglary that caused an estimated $300,000 damage to a Sunland junior high school.

The men, ages 19 and 21, were arrested Friday night by school district police, said Herbert Graham, director of police and administrative services for the school district. The pair, whose names were not released, were booked on suspicion of burglary.

The men were arrested five days after Mt. Gleason Junior High School was burglarized and set aflame by vandals. The school library, teachers lounge, cafeteria kitchen and several classrooms were damaged.

One of the men was being held without bail because he apparently was on probation, Graham said. The other was being held Monday in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Graham said evidence recovered at the time of the arrest may also implicate the pair in a recent burglary at a nearby elementary school.

The announcement of the arrests came just as the school board approved a $10,000 reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of vandals responsible for damaging Mt. Gleason and another school. It was unclear whether any money would be awarded as a result of the arrests in the Mt. Gleason case, Graham said.