LENOIR CITY, Tenn. — Lenoir City's mayor and Loudon County's District Attorney General are investigating after the Lenoir City High School football stadium was vandalized overnight.
Lenoir City Mayor Tony Aikens said he is offering a $250 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for the vandalism. He said he and Attorney General Russell Johnson believe the vandals were high school students. They said they intend to prosecute the vandals and that the incident "will not be tolerated."
The stadium was vandalized the night before the "Battle of the Bridge" rivalry game between Loudon County and Lenoir City. On Thursday, the city said police were questioning six people.
Aikens shared photos of the stadium, showing crude phalluses painted on various surfaces, windows painted over, a video camera defaced, and bleachers soiled. He also shared a screengrab from a social media post taunting Lenoir City with someone censored standing behind a painted rock.
"We both understand the spirit of the rivalry and the competition engendered by the battle of the bridge. We realize that kids will be kids. But what has happened here today is in bad taste and exceeds the standard for this rivalry and competitive spirit," Aikens said.
Police Chief Don White said the rivalry usually inspires small pranks.
"There may be some spray paint. That's very minimal. There may be damaging the fountain through making foam suds or hanging a banner off the side of the school. Those things are easily fixed and repaired," White said.
He said Thursday's damage was done to expensive equipment, totaling up to "$20,000 worth of damage."
Aikens and White said they want those involved to face consequences for their actions.
"On the juvenile level, it'll be an unruly vandalism charge. Once their court date comes, then restitution would be paid back to the school on all the individuals that either pled guilty or were found guilty through the judicial process," White said.