A University student and his friend were arrested Wednesday night for destruction of private property.
Charlottesville Police Sgt. C. R. Smith said witnesses saw two white males breaking car windows with baseball bats on Wertland Street and Sadler Court.
Witnesses called the police and directed them to a house they said they saw the two males enter.
Smith said the police found a metal pipe and a v-shaped instrument covered in shattered glass in the house. Police then arrested the suspects, 18-year-old rising first-year Spencer Webb and Samuel Heiberger, a Richmond resident.
Smith said 16 cars sustained damage to their windows.
Smith guessed that each window would cost about $300 to replace.
She said there were indications that drugs and alcohol were involved.
For instance, there was "fresh beer poured on the ground" outside the house, according to Smith.
Heiberger said he apologizes to all the people whose car windshields were smashed.
"It was stupid and thoughtless," he said, "and I really regret doing it."
Webb could not be reached for comment.
University Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Lissa Percopo said that according to the second Standard of Conduct, "in the event where a student's property is damaged at their home or at the home of another University student by a student, it would fall in our jurisdiction."
She added that she was not sure if students who are enrolled but have not begun to attend the University are defined as students by the UJC.
University Dean of Admissions John A. Blackburn declined to comment on the case, but said the University rescinds admission to a few enrolled students every summer, usually for bad grades or cheating while they are still enrolled in high school.
Smith said the charge could be a felony if the damages total more than $2,000, but the police probably will treat each car as a separate misdemeanor count.
The charges are punishable with up to one year in jail, a $2,500 fine or both.
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