LaPORTE CO. — Police in LaPorte County have announced arrests in connection with the vandalism of 15 New Prairie United School Corporation buses.

Police say they have arrested three high school students for the crime: Jack Keldsen, 18, and two other 17-year-old boys. All three have been charged with Class D felonies.

Police say there's no clear motive. The teens don't have a criminal history and it appears they were just goofing around.

School officials say the damage can be fixed, but the disappointment will remain for a long time.

After 6 days, police have answers.

"Three New Prairie High School students were taken into custody at the high school without incident," said LaPorte County Sheriff Michael Mollenhauer.

Last Friday morning, school employees found 15 buses, about one-third of the fleet, with extensive damage, everything from punctured tires and spray-painted racial slurs, to cut fluid lines.

"But the real tragedy here that we're facing, that we're going to deal with for months and months to come is the fact that all this occurred," said New Prairie United Schools Superintendent Dr. Phillip Bender.

Investigators say the vandalism was not a hate crime. It appears to be part of a well-planned prank.

"And also they thought it would be great to have a four-day weekend because they had a snow day the day before," said LaPorte County Sheriff's Detective Brian Piergalski.

Police collected evidence and followed up on multiple leads.

"It was merely, we acted on names that were just thrown out there. So, I guess you could say it was thrown out because of the rumor mill," said Piergalski.

So far, the damage is estimated at $7,000. But Bender says the disappointment is an even bigger price to pay.

"That question as to why will most likely will never be answered. But that's the issue that we're going to face. That's the issue that every taxpayer, every student in New Prairie Schools, will continue to ask every day: Why did this have to happen to us?" said Bender.

The 18-year-old is out on bond. If he's convicted he could face a maximum of three years in prison. The two 17-year-old boys will not be charged as adults. They remain in juvenile custody.