Teens Arrested After Drinking on Wakefield High School Roof

Seven recent graduates of Wakefield High School were arrested for trespassing on school grounds after they were discovered drinking alcohol on the rooftop of the school early Friday morning.

Four of the teenagers who were 18 years or older have also been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. All of the former students were under the legal drinking age, Arlington County Police spokeman Dustin Sternbeck said.

A maintenance employee or a school security official reported the group on the roof to Arlington County Police at approximately 5:15 a.m. When police approached, one of the former students attempted to flee. When police approached him, he attempted to instigate a physical altercation and resisted arrest. He was transported to the hospital to be treated for "very minor injuries," Sternbeck said. He was immediately released to police custody.

As of 9 a.m., all the former students were still in custody. Police were questioning them about a separate incident of vandalism at the school last week. On June 13, a group broke into Wakefield High School and vandalized the second floor. Sternbeck said it is not clear if these students are linked to that investigation.

"They seem more scared than anything," Sternbeck said. "It's hard to tell if they're remorseful. They didn't have any ill-intentions at the time. It's a poor decision-making process on their behalf."

Sternbeck said he did not anticipate the recent graduates would remain in police custody much longer.

In March 2011, with Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia, and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Obama also delivered a back-to-school address at Wakefield in 2009.