San Mateo Police Arrest Three After 'Disturbance' at Laurelwood Elementary

Two 17-year-old boys and a 24-year-old man were arrested this week in connection with a disturbance at Laurelwood Elementary School in San Mateo, police said Thursday.

An alert neighbor reported the disturbance on the campus on 36th Avenue at about 4:30 a.m. Monday, San Mateo Police Sgt. Dave Norris said.

Knowing that there have been a few recent after-hours break-ins and graffiti incidents at San Mateo schools over recent weeks, SMPD’s midnight shift quickly responded to the area.

Officers located a small fire on campus, and detained the three suspects, spotted fleeing into the nearby neighborhood.

Officers arrested two 17-year-old boys and a 24-year-old man, all from San Mateo.

Although there was no structural damage to the school from the fire, early estimates of the damage from the graffiti and arson were around $1200.

SMPD Detectives are following up on this investigation and looking to see if these suspects are linked to any of the four vandalism / break-in cases related to schools throughout San Mateo over the past month.

One of the male juveniles was arrested on suspicion of arson, graffiti, and trespassing. The second male juvenile was arrested on suspicion of trespassing and public intoxication. Both juveniles were released to their parents.

The adult arrestee, 24 year-old Zachary Esswein, was booked into San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of trespassing and drug influence.