Gang Violence Breaks Out at Local High School
Note from Steve: Sources advised me that the following fight was gang-related. More to follow as it comes in.
10 students arrested in two brawls at Mills
Melees hurt 4; school meeting set for Monday
By Stacy Hudson
Saturday, February 2, 2008
LITTLE ROCK — Ten students were arrested at Wilbur D. Mills University Studies High School after fights Friday that sent a student to the hospital and injured three people, including a Pulaski County sheriff’s deputy.
A fight started as soon as the bulk of students entered the school’s front doors about 8:30 a.m. and quickly spread to the back of the school, sheriff’s spokesman John Rehrauer said.
As many as 40 people may have been involved, he said.
Four felony charges, including having a knife on school property and battery of an officer, and 17 misdemeanor charges were filed against the students, most of whom were under age 18.
About an hour and a half after the first brawl, a second fight broke out in the school’s parking lot. One student was taken to a local hospital with head injuries resulting from that fight.
His condition was not available Friday, but his injuries aren’t life-threatening, Rehrauer said.
Cordell Tidwell, 18, and another student were charged with misdemeanors in that fight, according to police.
Carletta Wilson, a spokesman for the Pulaski County Special School District, said officials plan to hold a meeting Monday at 6 p.m. in the school auditorium to answer questions from parents.
The district also plans to add three assistant principals and more security at the school next week to keep students safe, said School Board member Mildred Tatum, whose zone includes the high school.
Tatum said she plans to attend the meeting.
“We’ve been needing some help for a long time,” she said, adding that students are often bigger than some of the teachers.
Fights happen in all schools, Tatum said.
“When we went to school and people started fighting, everybody started jumping in,” shesaid, adding that even she had been in fights in school. “Kids haven’t changed.”
About 1,000 students in grades 9-12 attend the high school, Wilson said.
School officials had heard rumors about a possible fight this week, Wilson said, adding that it’s “not uncommon” for there to be talk about fights.
After the fight, some parents picked their children up from the school. Classes continued like any other school day, Wilson said.
The students who were fighting will be punished according to school policy, which takes into account a student’s disciplinary record, Wilson said. She couldn’t specify what actions will be taken against the students but said suspension or expulsion is possible.
Names of the students involved were not released because they are not yet 18.
Police don’t know what started the fight, to which state police officers and sheriff’s deputies responded.
Sheriff’s deputies remained at the school throughout the day.
10 students arrested in two brawls at Mills
Melees hurt 4; school meeting set for Monday
By Stacy Hudson
Saturday, February 2, 2008
LITTLE ROCK — Ten students were arrested at Wilbur D. Mills University Studies High School after fights Friday that sent a student to the hospital and injured three people, including a Pulaski County sheriff’s deputy.
A fight started as soon as the bulk of students entered the school’s front doors about 8:30 a.m. and quickly spread to the back of the school, sheriff’s spokesman John Rehrauer said.
As many as 40 people may have been involved, he said.
Four felony charges, including having a knife on school property and battery of an officer, and 17 misdemeanor charges were filed against the students, most of whom were under age 18.
About an hour and a half after the first brawl, a second fight broke out in the school’s parking lot. One student was taken to a local hospital with head injuries resulting from that fight.
His condition was not available Friday, but his injuries aren’t life-threatening, Rehrauer said.
Cordell Tidwell, 18, and another student were charged with misdemeanors in that fight, according to police.
Carletta Wilson, a spokesman for the Pulaski County Special School District, said officials plan to hold a meeting Monday at 6 p.m. in the school auditorium to answer questions from parents.
The district also plans to add three assistant principals and more security at the school next week to keep students safe, said School Board member Mildred Tatum, whose zone includes the high school.
Tatum said she plans to attend the meeting.
“We’ve been needing some help for a long time,” she said, adding that students are often bigger than some of the teachers.
Fights happen in all schools, Tatum said.
“When we went to school and people started fighting, everybody started jumping in,” shesaid, adding that even she had been in fights in school. “Kids haven’t changed.”
About 1,000 students in grades 9-12 attend the high school, Wilson said.
School officials had heard rumors about a possible fight this week, Wilson said, adding that it’s “not uncommon” for there to be talk about fights.
After the fight, some parents picked their children up from the school. Classes continued like any other school day, Wilson said.
The students who were fighting will be punished according to school policy, which takes into account a student’s disciplinary record, Wilson said. She couldn’t specify what actions will be taken against the students but said suspension or expulsion is possible.
Names of the students involved were not released because they are not yet 18.
Police don’t know what started the fight, to which state police officers and sheriff’s deputies responded.
Sheriff’s deputies remained at the school throughout the day.
posted by Steve Nawojczyk at
4:30 AM
1 Comments:
Ms. Tatum says that "fights happen in all schools?" True, especially in her district.
We will continue to follow this story on PCSSD Fraud Watch Blog, as we are well aware of the violence in Fuller Middle School next door for many years now.
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