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13 school buses vandalized

By Julie N. Chang | The News Herald

Published: June 2, 2009

VALDESE - Two teenagers are in hot water after police began an investigation into the vandalism of 13 Burke County Public Schools buses.

Adam John Hensley, 18, of 4400 Springs Road, Conover, was charged with breaking and entering to a motor vehicle, larceny and possession of stolen goods. A 14-year-old boy also was involved, investigators with the sheriff's office said.

Burke County Public Schools Transportation Director Doug Setzer said someone took fire extinguishers out of school buses at Heritage and East Burke middle schools and Icard, Hildebran and Rutherford College elementary schools.

They would have to enter the bus in order to access the fire extinguishers, which are either overhead, over the front of the windshield or in a compartment by the driver's seat, Setzer said.

Setzer said the sheriff's office returned all of the missing fire extinguishers to the schools.

The Valdese Police Department initially contacted the sheriff's office Monday concerning the buses at Heritage Middle School. Deputies then discovered additional vandalized buses on the eastern end of the county.

Valdese police officers found a white Pontiac Sunfire in the area of Heritage that contained 15 fire extinguishers belonging to the schools, investigators said. Officers later found Hensley and the juvenile walking in the area.

Hensley was confined at Burke-Catawba District Confinement Facility under a $10,000 secured bond. His first court appearance is today.