Truancy bust a grand slam

LOS LUNAS, N.M. (KRQE) - LOS LUNAS, N.M. (KRQE) – It was far from a grand slam for two dozen Los Lunas High School students who were caught playing hooky last week, confirmed the district's director of safety and security Monday.

Desi Garcia said he, other school resources officers and Los Lunas police caught at least 25 students enjoying the free Grand Slam breakfast that Denny's restaurants were offering last Tuesday.

The commercial that promoted the free meal aired twice during Super Bowl Sunday.

"They saw the Denny's free Grand Slam commercial," Garcia said. "And we find kids enjoying a free Grand Slam."

The resource officers didn't need to go very far to catch the students enjoying their free meal. The Denny's is literally a few hundred yards away from the school.

"We have a closed campus but these kids are very innovative in seeking ways to get off campus," Garcia said.

He said many of the students never showed up to school that day—they'd simply gone straight to Denny's. Some students hopped a school fence to get to the restaurant.

One 18-year-old in the group was arrested by police because he became upset that they'd interrupted his breakfast.

Garcia said this is the first time a lot of the students had played hooky. The group is the first to violate the school's stricter truancy policies.

First time offenders are now required to report to Teen Court next week where a panel of their peers could sentence them to community service.

Garcia said this is a message to students who plan to skip class in Los Lunas.

"We'll eventually catch up with them," he said.