Dealership vandalism has positive outcome

A vandalism case that could have ended in a lawsuit instead became an opportunity to make a difference in a Sioux Falls teenager's life.

In October, Schulte Subaru of Sioux Falls asked for the public's help in finding two boys who were caught on video jumping on several dealership vehicles. Soon after the video was posted online, the boys were identified, and Schulte Subaru turned the names over to the Sioux Falls Police Department.

It was then that the case took at unexpected turn.

The detective informed Schulte Subaru that the boys responsible were only 10 and 14 years old, owner Mike Schulte said. The detective also added that neither had been in trouble with the law before. It was clear that the 14-year-old felt remorseful about the vandalism, Schulte said.

"He (the boy) was very embarrassed and sad that he had done that," he said.

Upon speaking with the parents of both boys, the dealership's staff realized that neither family could afford to pay back the $25,000 in estimated damages caused by the vandalism. Rather than press charges against them, Schulte said they decided to go a different route.

The 14-year-old boy and his mother were living in less-than-ideal conditions and lacked some basic resources, Schulte said. In fact, the teen was walking three miles to school and back every day because he did not have another way to get there.

"It was just heartbreaking," Schulte said.

Neither the boy nor his mother wanted to be identified, Schulte said.

The staff decided to assist the boy and his mother, helping them to procure a better place to live. They also helped the boy get a bus pass and bike to get to school, Schulte said.

In return, the boy offered to assist at Schulte Subaru after school and on weekends, emptying trash bins and doing other chores, Schulte said.

"He actually asked ... if he could come down and help us out," he said.

Since the dealership began helping the teen, Schulte said he seemed like a different person from the boy caught vandalizing cars on video.

"You wouldn't know it's the same kid," Schulte said. "You can just see the difference."

The dealership plans to assist the boy until he graduates from high school in hopes that he continues to make good choices.

"This is the moment where the kid looks back and says, 'This is when someone cared about me,'" Schulte said.

VIDEO CLIP FROM VANDALISM: