[June 13, 2013] 2 charged in ERHS school bus vandalism Tweet ASHEBORO, Jun 13, 2013 (The Courier-Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A Randolph County Sheriff's Office deputy on patrol foiled what could have been extensive vandalism to six school activity buses at Eastern Randolph High School. Two Asheboro residents were arrested and charged in connection with the vandalism, according to the sheriff's office. Jody Ryan Cox, 33, of 1223 Old Liberty Road, Apt. A, Asheboro, and Brandee Lorien Strider, 27, of 1249 Old Liberty Road, Apt. A, Asheboro, were charged with three counts of felony breaking or entering a motor vehicle, felony possession of burglary tools, misdemeanor attempted larceny, two counts misdemeanor larceny and misdemeanor injury to personal property. Strider was released on $5,000 secured bond and Cox was released on $2,000 secured bond. They're awaiting their appearance in Randolph County District Court on the charges, according to the sheriff's office release. The sheriff's office reported Wednesday that a deputy, while on routine patrol Sunday morning about 4 a.m., discovered activity buses had been vandalized at Eastern Randolph, located at 390 Eastern Randolph Road, Ramseur. The deputy realized that a suspect was hiding under the buses, later identified as Strider, and it was determined that a second suspect, Cox, had fled. Officers also located, at the scene, a back pack which contained tools used to remove batteries and cut the battery wires and cables to the buses. Damage was estimated at $100 or less, according to Marty Trotter, Randolph County Schools assistant superintendent of operations, on Wednesday. He said two of the six buses were affected; the cable had been cut on one bus to remove the battery. Trotter said there could have been more extensive damage if the deputy hadn't discovered the vandalism in progress. He agreed that the officer was in "the right place at the right time" and added that the suspects were "in the wrong place at the wrong time." There were no yellow school buses at the ERHS bus parking lot, only the school's activity buses. Trotter said that on the final day of school, on Friday, county school bus drivers drove the vehicles they'd been using all school year to the Central Office Bus Garage lot in Asheboro for the summer break. The deputy on patrol was not identified by the sheriff's office. ___ (c)2013 The Courier-Tribune, Asheboro, N.C. Visit The Courier-Tribune, Asheboro, N.C. at www.courier-tribune.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]