Police say they have two suspects in the cutting of trees at two Bismarck high schools.

Bismarck Police Officer Perry Lauer said two 18-year-old Bismarck men have been identified as suspects in the case.

Based on interviews with the two high school students, police found probable cause to forward reports to the Bismarck city attorney, said Lauer, a school resource officer.

Custodians and assistant principals at Bismarck High School noticed a mature shade tree had been cut down Tuesday morning. The vandalism was reported to police at 4:05 a.m. Tuesday.

Century High School officials reported later the same day that a tree on their grounds had been cut down.

The trees at the high schools were cut down with chainsaws, police believe.

Lauer said the incidents apparently were a senior prank. Both students are seniors in high school, but Lauer declined to say where they go to school.

"I have probable cause to believe one did one at Bismarck High, and one did one at Century," he said.

The suspects could face charges of criminal mischief, which is a Class Amisdemeanor until damages reach $2,000. Class Amisdemeanors are punishable by up to one year in prison and fines of up to $2,000.

The replacement value of the trees will be used as the damage amount, Lauer said.

The schools offered rewards for information leading to the suspects. Lauer did not know if the rewards had been given out.

"The investigation was aided because of kids coming forward and talking," he said.

Sgt. Mark Buschena said a citizen reported a tree in Hillside Park had been chopped down with a handsaw sometime from May 16 to Wednesday.

Lauer said the two men suspected of cutting down the trees at the high schools were ruled out as suspects in the Hillside Park vandalism after officers looked at the tree in the park and interviewed the two students.

"It's fair to say they were not involved with that," he said.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)