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YouTube Video Of Castle Vandalism Leads To Arrests

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May 2, 2008 7:25 pm US/Eastern

YouTube Video Of Castle Vandalism Leads To Arrests

Ridgefield, Conn. Teens Seen Urinating On Floors, Smashing Walls Of 112-Year-Old Danbury Mansion

Reporting
Tony Aiello
DANBURY, Conn. (CBS) ― A Connecticut castle was recently trashed by a bunch of suspected teens. Their video on YouTube sure made it easy for Danbury Police. Now, five of them face charges. And as CBS 2 HD has learned, the teens have a history of videotaping their shenanigans.

The castle is surrounded by a seven-foot fence, has a locked gate and several no trespassing signs, but even all that wasn't enough a pack of teens bent on furthering damaging the crumbling mansion at Tarrywile Park.

"The idea of doing destruction to a public building just for the sake of having nothing else to do and because you want to do it … that's very upsetting," Tarrywile Park director Sandy Moy told CBS 2 HD.

Moy says teens often try to enter the castle, but she's never seen any videotape their exploits and post them on YouTube.

The five Ridgefield teens that made the video now face charges for trespassing and for vandalizing the castle's floors and walls.

Michael Drogalis, 18, was charged as an adult. His friends were all charged as juveniles.

The destructive romp through the castle is just the latest in a series of questionable high jinks these teenagers have posted online. The video shows two teens urinating inside the castle and using a hammer to destroy a wall, among others.

Another Web video shows them mimicking stunts from the movie "Jackass" by diving into dumpsters, crashing shopping carts and banging their heads in apparent boredom.

CBS 2 HD spoke to several recent Ridgefield High School graduates who said a desire for Internet fame can lead to all sorts of trouble.

"It is kind of sad they think it's funny," Kelly Morrissette said. "They do it to get a thrill, impress their friends. YouTube is accessible by everyone everywhere."

Perhaps the only good to come out of this has been a renewed interest in the castle, which was built in 1896, and perhaps a boost to efforts to restore it.

The castle was initially built as a private home, and was given to the town of Danbury in the 1980s.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.