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Thousands of dollars worth of electronics go missing from flooded school

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SPRINGFIELD - A man was arrested after sheriff's deputies say he stole thousands of dollars worth of electronics from a school in Livingston Parish.

On August 20 and 21, contractors were on site to help clean flood damage. That's when about $50,000 worth of electronics went missing.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office says 26-year-old Desmond Calloway turned himself into the authorities last week. He's charged with tampering with surveillance or monitoring equipment.

Sheriff Jason Ard says, "Through our investigation, we can prove Calloway covered up and altered surveillance equipment at Springfield High on August 20."

The sheriff's office believes the cameras were adjusted to keep the actual acts of theft from being seen.

Springfield High School flooded last month and remains closed to students. The majority of its contents had to be thrown out.

Livingston Parish Schools Superintendent Rick Wentzel says the community has been very supportive but what happened is disappointing.

"I think it's horrible that people would be taking away from kids," said Wentzel. "That's basically in essence what it is. The supplies that were taken were kid materials, things that we use to educate."

Thousands of dollars worth of equipment from the library and thousands more taken from the "Springfield Live" broadcasting room. The items taken, are items students need to learn.

"It's important to them that we continue to train them on equipment they're going to use whenever they get out into the workforce," said Wentzel.

Tuesday, teachers were moving back into their classrooms. New desks and chairs are on standby in Springfield High's gymnasium, but the stolen items are still missing.

Detectives believe others are involved in the thefts. The sheriff's office asks anyone with information to call LPSO at 225-686-2241.

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