Third bomb-like device detonated at Dysart school

A third bomb-like device has been detonated on the campus of a high school in the Dysart Unified School System in less than a month.

On Tuesday, May 20, a small homemade incendiary device was brought into Dysart High School and ignited in the cafeteria. The incident created a disturbance and was extinguished by school officials.

On April 23 and May 1, chemical bombs were detonated at Willow Canyon High School and Valley Vista High School.

"This is very serious business," said El Mirage Assistant Police Chief Bill Louis. "Especially after what has happened at schools around the country.

"I don't think kids, juveniles, think these things through," he said.

On Tuesday, the school's El Mirage Police Resource Officer was notified and he took possession of the remains of the device as evidence which he impounded for scientific analysis. An El Mirage detective was notified and assisted in the investigation. The contents of the device will be submitted for scientific analysis at the Department of Public Safety Crime Lab.

The resulting investigation revealed that two Dysart High School juniors were responsible for the incident. The students were identified during the investigation and were interviewed Wednesday morning. Both male students, a 16-year old and 17-year old, were arrested and made statements regarding the incident.

Both admitted that they found plans for the device on the Internet, Louis said.

He added that he didn't believe this was a copycat crime, but did ask that details of the device not be printed in case someone was looking to copy this incident.

Both students were detained at the Maricopa County Juvenile Detention Center on two felony charges - interfering with an educational institution and misconduct involving weapons. The investigation is on-going and other charges may follow.

The first incident took place on April 23, when a 17-year-old student allegedly placed a plastic soda-type bottle in a trash can at Willow Canyon High School. The bottle, containing a combination of household cleaners, exploded in a trash can.

The student was arrested and booked into the Maricopa County Durango Juvenile Detention Facility on a referral for charges of misconduct involving weapons, depositing explosives and disruption of an educational institution.

On May 1, a chemical bomb was released at Valley Vista High School.

School district officials have declined to say what actions, beyond criminal charges, will be taken against the students.

Dysart Unified School District spokesman Jim Dean when reached after hours said he was unaware of the incident and unable to comment.