Police cite three juveniles for vandalizing Rohnert Park’s Gold Ridge Recreation Center

Rohnert Park police have cited and released three juveniles for vandalizing a community center, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety was notified of a break-in at the Gold Ridge Recreation Center on Wednesday, according to a statement from the department. Upon investigation, officers discovered a door was pried open and there was “extensive damage” to the inside of the building.

The recreation center, at 1455 Golf Course Drive in Rohnert Park, is a former elementary school. Police said the building vandalized was not occupied. Neighboring buildings that are in use were not damaged. Police said the suspects brought couches into the building and apparently used it as “some sort of gathering place.”

The juveniles broke glass and ceiling tiles, damaged the sheet rock and covered the inside of the building with graffiti, which apparently led to a break in the case. Police said they were able to locate the first of the three juveniles because his father recognized some of his artwork in the photographs they posted on Facebook.

The father contacted Rohnert Park police and brought his 16-year-old son to the station, where the teenager confessed to vandalizing the community center and was “very cooperative.”

The police Thursday cited the teen and two other juveniles for vandalism and released them.The police are continuing to investigate the case.