Oct 26, 2023

Prank caused $1,500 damage to fountain at Kansas Wesleyan

Posted Oct 26, 2023 4:00 PM
Kansas Wesleyan -Google image
Kansas Wesleyan -Google image

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Salina Post

Early this morning, the Kansas Wesleyan University security staff saw bubbling foam from the Pioneer Hall fountain, a now familiar sight for the university.

According to Salina Police Department sergeant Kyle Tonniges, this is not the first time someone vandalized the water feature with soap.

At around 5:30 a.m., Kansas Wesleyan staff found the water fountain overflowing with soap and reported to SPD that three suspects, one man and two women, visited the fountain around 2 a.m.

The three suspects drove away in a silver-white SUV and have not been identified by SPD.

According to Tonniges, the current damage is $1,500 but could be more if the drainage system needs to be repaired.

"If there's any sort of damage to the pipes or pumps, it would be a lot more, but at this point, it's got to be at least $1,500 to drain it, clean it and refill it," Tonniges said.

Tonniges said Kansas Wesleyan is reviewing footage of the incident and that the current damages are a felony offense.