Battlin’ Bear Stadium vandals arrested

Two days after the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears defeated the Splendora Wildcats, 55-9, two suspects vandalized the school’s newly renovated Battin’ Bear Stadium on Oct. 23 – Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) deputies have arrested two teens responsible.

The suspects, identified as Ryan Dee Bergeron, 18, and Johnney Davis, used red and blue spray paint, the colors of the Lumberton High School, to deface the press box, field logo, away concession stand and a sign on the high school baseball field. Curse words were also spray-painted on the signs and buildings. Several paint cans were later found near the stadium.

The Bears travel to Lumberton on Friday, Oct. 29 for a key District 10-4A Division 1 contest which could determine seeding in the upcoming playoffs.

In September 2022, new turf was installed at the stadium as part of a multi-million dollar upgrade.

LC-M Consolidated Independent School District officials are working with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on surveillance video of two suspects, believed to be school-aged boys in hoodies. Spray painting on the press box occurred at 12:17 a.m., reported Superintendent Stacey Brister. 

LC-M High School Principal Ryan DuBose posted a response to the vandalism on Facebook: "If there is anything that can be taken from this ugly situation, it’s the outpouring of help. I’ve been contacted by kids and staff from LC-M, Lumberton, BC (Bridge City), Orangefield and Vidor wanting to help. We are not narrowing it down to just one school in terms of who the guilty party is. We are working with law enforcement and will follow their lead with the investigation.”

DuBose urged persons to stay off the field while Hellas Construction brings in their turf crew to repair the damage. 

LC-M CISD officials stated it could cost thousands to have the buildings repainted.

According to Mary Johnson, Lumberton ISD director of Communications and Community Relations, Superintendent Dr. Tony Tipton has been in contact with the superintendent and high school principal at LC-M and Lumberton ISD Athletic Director James Reyes has also been in contact with LC-M head coach and athletic director, Coach Eric Peevey. 

“LISD condemns vandalism and hopes the perpetrators, whoever they turn out to be, are caught and held responsible,” wrote Johnson.

According to a report sent by OCSO Sheriff Lane Mooney on Sunday, Oct. 23, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Little Cypress Mauriceville school administrators concerning vandalism that had occurred on school property. Vandals had used spray paint to vandalize several school buildings and property including the newly installed turf on the football field, field house, signs and building on the baseball field, and other buildings. 

Investigators with the Orange Sheriff’s Office began investigating the crime, and on Monday evening had identified two suspects, and obtained a confession of the crime from one of them. A second suspect was located on Tuesday and was arrested on an unrelated charge. Investigators were also able to obtain a confession from the second suspect later in the day on Tuesday.

“After gathering all available evidence and presenting it to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, felony warrants were issued by Judge Courtney Arkeen for the two suspects responsible for the vandalism,” OCSO reported. “One suspect is currently a student attending LCM high school. The second suspect is currently enrolled at Nederland ISD, but until recently was also a student at LCM high school. It is believed that the vandalism was committed in an attempt to stoke tensions and rivalry between LCM and Lumberton prior to the upcoming football game that will take place in Lumberton on Friday.”

B. Scott McLendon contributed to this report