Update: 4/18/2023 @ 5:33 PM

Initial indications are that two students at Clark Middle School got into a physical altercation and one of the students called three high-school-aged juveniles to come assist. ASD staff separated the students and the school was placed on lock-down. One student was in the administrative office and the other student along with the three high-school-aged juveniles were in the common area. The four juveniles began to forcefully attempt to break windows and doors to gain entry to the administrative office where staff and students were located.  

An SRO assigned to Clark Middle School, who was following up on an unrelated case at the school, responded and attempted to diffuse the situation while calling for back up. One of the juveniles struck the SRO in the face while another juvenile began throwing items at the glass window while ignoring officer commands, the SRO deployed his taser to prevent forced entry to the office.

Subsequently, another SRO arrived at the scene and the juveniles refused to cooperate and continued to ignore officers’ commands.  The SRO deployed pepper spray to gain control of the situation until back up officers arrived. The juveniles were removed from the school and were treated by medics at the scene for pepper spray exposure and one juvenile was treated in relation to the taser deployment. All four juveniles were arrested, and charges were forwarded to Division of Juvenile Justice.

No staff or other students reported injuries. The officer received minor injuries and was treated at the scene by medics.

Original:

On April 18, 2023, at 11:55 AM officers assigned to the School Resource Unit and Dayshift Patrol responded to Clark Middle School in reference to four teenaged juveniles who were causing a disturbance inside the school. They were attempting to forcefully gain entrance to the administrative office where other students were located. When officers arrived, the juveniles refused to leave the school and assaulted one of the officers. All four juveniles were arrested, and charges were forwarded to the Division of Juvenile Justice.

Three of the juveniles were not students at Clark Middle School.

APD Case: 23-12456