Man apologizes for tearing up turf

Wednesday, Sept. 22, 1999 | 9:20 a.m.

Curtis Darmettler, 28, admitted he vandalized the field by driving across the turf in August, Washoe County school police said.

The Washoe County District Attorney's office is considering filing a misdemeanor charge against him for destruction of school property.

School police Sgt. Mike Mieras said Darmettler acted alone. He has no ties to the school or the neighborhood, Mieras said.

"It's a random thing," Mieras said. "He made a mistake and he's very sorry for it. It's something that happened, that never should have."

Investigators tracked him down based on more than a dozen tips to the Secret Witness hotline.

Community donations paid for the $7,500 in damages.

Principal Jan Ross said she is glad the case has been cracked. She said it puts to rest the rumors that students at an opposing school had damaged the field.

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