Teens may face charges in mascot theft

Keith Paul

Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 | 11:35 a.m.

The kidnapping of Centennial High School's mascot, a 20-month-old bulldog named Blu, was probably meant to fire up the Mojave High School football team before a game with its division rival.

But what Metro Police say happened next escalated from prank to crime. Whoever took the dog sometime early Sept. 28 put Blu in a fight with another dog, causing wounds to the mascot.

Three Mojave students could be arrested as early as today in connection with animal cruelty. Anywhere from 15 to 20 others could be charged with watching the two dogs fight, said a Metro Police source, who spoke to the Sun on the condition of anonymity.

The source also said one of Mojave's football coaches told police he knew the students were planning to take the dog.

Another Metro official, Capt. Rick Bilyeu, said police will meet with prosecutors today to go over the case to see if there is enough evidence to file charges.

Officially police would say only that the investigation is continuing. But rumors of torture to the dog have been going around both schools for a week and stories of what happened have been traded in Internet chatrooms.

But a Metro source said many of the rumors are not true. Blu was found that night chained to a stake on Centennial's field, but the report that food and water were just out of reach was not true. She could reach food and water.

Before Blu was found on the field, the sprinklers went on, soaking the dog, who was dressed in a Mojave T-shirt.

The wounded dog was tended to by a veterinarian and was able to go home Friday with Centennial student Tiffany Clark and her mother, Sue Clark.

Whatever motivation Mojave's team was supposed to gain from stealing Blu backfired as Centennial -- winless in four tries this year -- pummelled their Northwest division rival 24-6. Mojave wasn't considered a football powerhouse, but is a more established program than Centennial, which is in its second year of existence and its first year with seniors.

Neither Centennial's football coach nor Mojave's coach could be reached for comment this morning.

Mojave Principal Andre Denson said the incident has embarrassed and angered most of the students, who have provided information they've heard about Blu to school officials and police.

"I've spoken with Tiffany and her mother, and they want to do some joint things between Mojave and Centennial to show there are good students at both schools," Denson said. "I've told our students don't let the media reports (of the incident) convince you that you've done something wrong. If Mojave students were involved, I'm sure it was just an incident isolated to the few students involved."

Students at both schools have raised money for a reward in the case to go along with the up to $1,000 reward offered by Secret Witness.

The public outcry over the treatment of Blu has led to many calls to police creating many leads for detectives to follow, Metro Deputy Chief Ray Flynn said.

In addition to any criminal charges, the students involved with kidnapping Blu could face disciplinary action from the school system ranging from a conference with their parents and school officials to expulsion, Denson said.