ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604100085
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BEDFORD
SOURCE: JOANNE POINDEXTER STAFF WRITER
Two Liberty High School students have been charged with malicious wounding as a result of a fight at school last week.
Bedford County sheriff's officers arrested a 17-year-old Tuesday. A 15-year-old also has been charged, but had not been picked up by Tuesday afternoon.
Sheriff Mike Brown said his department was notified of the fight by a relative of the injured student Thursday afternoon. A sheriff's office investigation led to the malicious wounding charges Tuesday. County schools were closed Friday and Monday for spring break.
The injured student was treated for lacerations to the face and mouth and released Thursday from Bedford Memorial Hospital, but will require oral surgery, investigators said.
The two students charged in the matter have been suspended from school. The Sheriff's Office and school officials would not release the names of anyone involved in the incident because all three are juveniles.
The Sheriff's Office gave this account:
About noon Thursday as students were leaving an assembly, several became involved in a spitball fight and paper throwing. The injured student told police he was attacked by the 15- and 17-year-old as he tried to go through a door and was blocked by another student. No charges have been placed against the student who blocked the door.
Brown said the injured student "was possibly a participant" in the paper throwing. "It was a kid-type thing. .. they were feeling their oats," Brown said. "The incident turned ugly, but it shouldn't have.''
The injured student was taken to the hospital, but the Sheriff's Office was not called.
Amy Smith, information officer for the school system, said high school staff assumed the Sheriff's Office would be notified of the incident when the school called 911 for an ambulance.
The high school staff followed proper procedure in getting the injured student treated, Smith said.
Brown said the Sheriff's Office does not respond to every rescue call to schools, but that his office will review the policy with School Superintendent John Kent. In incidents involving violence, Brown said, "it's their duty and responsibility to notify us.''
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