Schools

Threat against teacher leads to teen's arrest

After an altercation at West Hernando Middle, drugs are found on the 14-year-old, officials say.

By JOEL ANDERSON, Times Staff Writer
Published February 6, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - A 14-year-old boy faces felony charges of drug possession and assault and battery of school personnel after being arrested on the campus of West Hernando Middle School this week.

The teen, who is not being identified because he is a juvenile, was booked into the Hernando County Jail on Monday morning and later released into the custody of his mother for home detention.

The boy, a student at the school, was charged with assault and battery of school personnel, possession of crack cocaine, possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor.

A school resource officer was summoned after getting a report that the boy had put his hands on a teacher in the classroom. The teacher told the officer that the teen had refused to do his morning assignment, then attempted to leave the classroom to go eat breakfast.

When the boy headed toward the door, according to the report, the teacher placed his hand on the teen's right shoulder and asked him to return to his seat. The boy allegedly cursed, then told the teacher to get his hands off of him. When the teacher again tried to steer the student back into the classroom, the boy reportedly grabbed the teacher by the neck, clenched a fist with the other hand and threatened to beat the man up.

Another teacher intervened, the report said, escorting the boy back into the classroom. The boy continued using "foul and abusive language," according to the report.

The teen was later advised of his Miranda rights in the presence of his mother, signed a waiver and mostly confirmed the version of events told by the teachers. When the officer asked the boy if he had anything in his pockets before arresting him, the teen produced a black knit glove with bags of marijuana, crack cocaine and methamphetamine. He told the officer the drugs didn't belong to him.

[Last modified February 5, 2008, 21:24:28]