Senior Pranks: Residents Battle Dead Opossum, Paintball Damage

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Remember the days when pranks committed by graduating seniors involved waking up to find an endless amount of toilet paper spread across your front lawn?

Well, the latest pranks allegedly done by a group of students from Creekview High School have taken on an extreme -- and disgusting -- form.

Residents in at least two neighborhoods have reported their homes, porches and lawns were defiled as part of these pranks, and these incidents are under investigation by the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office.

Each incident was reported earlier this week, just days before seniors at Creekview are set to graduate.

In one case, residents at four homes on Ardsley Run, which sits off Gaddis Road in the Woodmont community in unincorporated Canton, reported their homes had been damaged due to several paintball shots fired during the overnight hours on Wednesday, May 20.

According to an incident report obtained by the sheriff’s office, one resident reported a pane of glass above the front door was broken. Another resident said he’d be willing to press charges, since he said his property was damaged after he pressure washed his house.

As a deputy with the sheriff’s office continued to patrol the area, he made note of two additional homes on the street that appeared to have been damaged by paint balls. No one was present at the first home, so the deputy was unable to gather any information.

The person at the second home did not wish to file a report, and had already cleaned the paint off with water, the incident report states.

Another report released by the agency involves two residents whose home was left in far worse condition.

According to the report, a deputy with the agency met with two residents just before 6:30 a.m. May 16 at a home on Carter Lane in the Governor’s Preserve neighborhood who found a dead opossum -- which had been disemboweled -- and what appeared to be human feces on their front porch.

“Scattered throughout the entire front lawn was garbage, shredded paper and the tree closest to the roadway was covered with toilet paper,” the report states.

The report revealed the pranks were part of a “war” between juniors and seniors at Creekview High School. Monica Cox-Young, whose home was where the dead animal was discovered, told WSB-TV that while she understands teenagers will be teenagers, the act of mutilating a dead animal and leaving human waste on someone’s property takes the idea of a prank too far.

Cherokee Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lt. Jay Baker said the agency is investigating the incidents, and about 40 of these cases have been reported to deputies.

“They’re doing stuff that could affect their future, believe it or not,” Baker told WSB-TV, referring to those behind the acts. “It’s not a simple as throwing a couple of rolls of toilet paper in a tree.”

Baker also told WSB that a senior at Creekview High School has called an end to the so-called wars.

Patch has reached out to Creekview’s principal and a spokesperson with the Cherokee County School District to confirm if that’s the case.

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Photos: A home on Carter Lane in unincorporated Canton was the victim of a senior prank involving dead animals and human waste. Credit: Monica Cox-Young