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NEWS BRIEFS Three juveniles have been charged with vandalism to the public restrooms at Payne Park, the popular recreation area in downtown Sarasota. Photo courtesy City of Sarasota PAYNE PARK VANDALS ARRESTED, CHARGED Three juveniles have been charged with do- Diversion Service, according to the report. If ing more than $1,000 in damage to the public they complete the program successfully, they restrooms at Payne Park, The Sarasota News will avoid prosecution. Leader has learned. The third juvenile, the 12-year-old, was schedA 14-year-old, a 17-year-old and a 12-year-old uled for trial on Dec. 6 but entered a plea. A were charged with Criminal Mischief. Florida restitution hearing is set for Jan. 28, the report law prevents identification of youthful offendnotes. ers. After they were contacted by the Sarasota Police Department, the parents of the juveniles agreed to allow officers to interview the youths, according to a report. The three juveniles all identified each other as having been present and participants in the vandalism, a report says. The bathrooms have been out of service since Aug. 21, when the porcelain fixtures were smashed. The city is replacing them with "industrial fixtures" made of metal, similar to the ones installed at Fredd Atkins Park, as well as in jails and prisons. The investigation was conducted by Sarasota The 17-year-old and the 14-year-old had police Officer J. Smith and Detective Nixon. charges deferred based upon their decision to participate in the Intensive Delinquency Stan Zimmerman