CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — Recently-released surveillance video shows a red dump truck dumping a large pile of construction debris at a school playground.
It happened Wednesday evening around 6:30 p.m., in the playground of the Berean Junior Academy in northwest Charlotte.
The surveillance video shows the truck -- with a red cab and black bed -- pulling up to the parking lot. One person hopped out of the truck, walked up to the school and peered through the windows, and moments later, the truck unloaded the debris.
RAW: Surveillance Video Of Truck Dumping Trash At School
"It's just very sad and unfortunate someone would be that deliberately cruel," said Sheila Faison, the school's secretary.
Avis Bing is a Berean Academy alum, and she also sends her son to the school.
"It's pretty unfortunate, and pretty sad, to know that somebody would come out and do that at an establishment for children," Bing said.
Parents said someone left tires in the school parking lot last year. Bing said it's now time for the school to purchase a front gate it can lock at night.
"It's been brought up. And with this occurrence, that's something we're strongly looking toward. Just to keep people out," Faison said.
Several volunteers spent hours Thursday evening picking up the garbage and loading it into a trailer. The garbage trailer will be hauled off the school property Friday afternoon.
Police said having the surveillance video will be crucial to the investigation.
"Sometimes it can make or break a case. If we don't have that surveillance at all, sometimes we have nothing to go on," said Officer Rob Preston.
Preston said it's hard to see the playground from the road, which made it an easy place for a dump and run.
"It's right in the middle of the school's property, right behind the school. It appears to be very deliberate," he said.
Police said they'll review the tape and begin the investigation immediately.
Previous Stories: May 4, 2011: Pile Of Trash Left In Charlotte School Yard