Somerville High School Prank Goes Wrong, Leads to Arrests

It appears Somerville police foiled a prank that involved cups, small balls and balloons on the third floor of Somerville High School, and three young Somerville residents were arrested and charged with misdemeanor breaking and entering for their efforts.

According to a Somerville police report, officers received a radio call for an alarm at the high school shortly after midnight on May 24.

Officers searched the perimeter of the school and found nothing, but at about 1:36 a.m. they received another radio call saying the superintendent of facilities was watching surveillance footage on his home computer, the report says.

The superintendent observed five hoodie-clad people with flashlights on the third floor of the school, according to the report.

A number of officers responded, and three of the suspects were caught coming out of the School Street-side doors of the school, the report says.

It says that when officers searched the school, they found the balloons, cups and small balls "covering a large area of the third floor." They also found a first-floor window in the cafeteria pried open, with muddy footprints on the floor.

One of the suspects said they were in the school to rig a senior prank.

Karen Maranjo, 18, of 190 Pearl St., Guillermo Moran, 18, of 207 Pearl St., and a juvenile were arrested, according to the report.

Please remember that allegations contained in police reports do not indicate a conviction.