Violence is everyday occurrence in Beaufort County public schools : Beaufort Tribune.com

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Violence is everyday occurrence in Beaufort County public schools

Violence is everyday occurrence in Beaufort County public schools

Violence is an everyday occurrence in Beaufort County public schools according to reports at the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office as verified by a reporter for The Beaufort Tribune. Below is a list of only some of the violent events that occurred in the schools during a typical two-week period. None of these reports is routinely furnished to the news media in press releases by the police nor made available by the school system.

The reports below cover only the schools located in unincorporated Beaufort County north of Broad River. Other violent events occurred during this same period of time in schools, such as Beaufort High School, located in municipalities that have their own police departments, such as the City of Beaufort, and in schools located south of the Broad River. None of those reports was inspected by our reporter.

The Beaufort Tribune presents the following list as examples of the type of violence that occurs in Beaufort County public schools day after day throughout the school year:

December 2, 2009, Wednesday, Battery Creek High School
A 15-year-old male student (6’0”, 150 lbs.) brought to school a silver and black BB gun with black electrical tape wrapped around the handle and barrel, concealed in a cloth leg holster, and a 3-inch knife. He stated: “If someone was to mess with me, I was going to pistol-whip them” and “If them boys was going to try me, I was going to stab them.” He was arrested and charged with carrying a weapon on school property.

December 7, 2009 Monday
A teacher in an “emotionally disabled self-contained class” reported that a male student “began disrupting the class.” When she called the assistant principal for assistance, the student got up and started yelling for her to get out of the way. She refused to move and the student said he would “f**k her up.” The student then got by her and ran out of the classroom. The SRO arrived and found the student heading back towards the classroom, “He would not respond to my verbal commands and was getting increasingly violent, so I placed him in handcuffs.” The teacher and the school declined to pursue charges.

December 7, 2009, Monday, Whale Branch Middle School
A 14-year-old student reported to the SRO that his mother had kicked him out of the house the night before and told him to “get out and don’t come back.” The student was afraid to go home because of several incidents when his mother had “beaten” him while they lived in New York. His mother stated that he could “sleep under a bridge for all she cares.” The SRO stated he did not think protective custody was warranted in this situation and that instead he was going to recommend family counseling at Coastal Empire Mental Health and follow-up visits with the family.

December 8, 2009, Tuesday, Robert Smalls Middle School
An 11-year-old student (4’10”, 85 lbs.) and a 12-year-old student (5’3”, 150 lbs.) were arrested and charged with petit larceny and malicious injury to personal property for smashing the glass panel of a snack vending machine located in back of the gymnasium and stealing several snack items.

December 8, 2009, Tuesday, Battery Creek High School
A teacher reported that a 15-year-old white male student (6’0”, 142 lbs.) assaulted and battered her. Before class ended, the teacher told the student to remain in his seat. The student then grabbed the teacher and pushed her out of the classroom door. The teacher did not press charges.

December 11, 2009. Friday, Battery Creek High School
A white male student threatened assault on a teacher with scissors. The teacher said she felt intimidated and threatened. The teacher filed a complaint against the student.

December 14, 2009, Monday, Battery Creek High School
A 15-year-old student (5’9”, 140 lbs.) and a 14-year-old student (6’0”, 175 lbs.) were charged with simple possession of marijuana. The 14-year-old student had marijuana in his book bag. An officer on foot patrol smelled the marijuana as several students walked past him. The student had a “black ‘flag’ bandana in his right rear pocket. When I asked him why he had it, he admitted being associated with Folk Nation,” (a gang).

December 15, 2009, Tuesday, Robert Smalls Middle School
A 12-year-old (4’11”, 95 lbs.) black male student was charged with assault and battery against a 12-year-old (4’9”, 85 lbs.) white male student (swollen left eye). The student victim stated that the other student “started hitting him for no reason.” The accused student said that the other student had been “talking about him.” The father of the victim did not want to press charges.

December 15, 2009, Tuesday, Whale Branch Middle School
A 13-year-old student (5’10”, 190 lbs.) and another 13-year-old student (5’8”, 170 lbs.) were arrested for assault and battery on a 14-year-old student and interference with the operation of a school bus. The students “slapped him in his face two times and told him to get out of his seat.” and “punched him in the left side and right side of his face and it felt like he was being choked.” It started just as the school bus turned into the school parking lot from Stuart Point Road. The students placed the victim in a headlock. Neither parent of the victim wanted to pursue the charges, but the Sheriff’s Office charged the students/suspects.

December 16, 2009, Wednesday, Battery Creek High School
While on active patrol, a deputy “observed a number of students engaged in a mutual physical altercation.” Subsequently, all suspects were arrested for disturbing schools including two 17-year-olds, a 16-year-old, and one other student.

December 18, 2009, Friday, Whale Branch Middle School
A juvenile allegedly stole another student’s book bag in the 8th grade hallway and was charged with petit larceny.

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