Williams students face vandalism counts

Posted Tuesday, May 25, 2010 7:47 am

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WILLIAMSTOWN -- Williams College has apologized to the Williamstown community after students -- apparently intoxicated -- went on a vandalism spree early Sunday morning.

Two Williams students were charged with several counts of felony vandalism and three other students face similar charges after they damaged numerous buildings and vehicles on campus and around town, police said Monday.

"They just went on a rampage and destroyed anything they wanted," said Police Chief Kyle Johnson.

Williams spokesman James G. Kolesar said, "There is no excuse for such destructive behavior, and the college apologizes to those who were affected."

Johnson said there was no real motive, but alcohol was involved in the vandalism, which included egg throwing and window breaking. Among the buildings hit were the Women's Exchange at 131 Cole Ave., Cole Field House on Stetson Road and a house on Meadow Street.

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Charles James, 19, of Los Angeles, Calif. and Samuel J. Marshall, 19, of Sun Prarie, Wis. are scheduled to be arraigned in Northern Berkshire District Court in North Adams on May 28.

Three other students will be summoned to court also for felony vandalism.

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Kolesar said Monday afternoon James and Marshall were still registered students, but anyone associated with the "destructive behavior" that took place on Sunday morning is subject to the college disciplinary process, which is confidential.

In addition, Campus Safety and Security is working with Williamstown Police, he said.

Police said they began receiving reports of vandalism at 12:39 a.m. on Heating Plant Drive.

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By 11 a.m. vandalism had been reported on Meadow Street, Stetson Road and Cole Avenue.

The damage included windows being smashed at a Meadow Street house, Williams College's Cole Field House and the Women's Exchange; a college service van being hit several times with a large rock causing significant damage; and several buildings and cars throughout the campus being struck by eggs.

Johnson said with the investigation ongoing, it's too early to put a dollar amount on the damage, but he estimates it's in the thousands.

About an hour after police received the first report of vandalism, the police department's K9 unit was called in to assist in finding the students responsible for it.

In addition, police are investigating whether the students were involved in a small fire on Weston Field that was intentionally set.