Friday, January 21, 2000
Student, dad, charged in scuffle
Police say pair assaulted officer at school
BY JANET C. WETZEL and SUE KIESEWETTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MONROE — A Lemon-Monroe High School senior is facing charges and her father is due in court next week on a felony count resulting from a recent melee at the school.
School Resource Officer Brian Curlis suffered minor injuries in the altercation last week, Monroe Police Chief Er nest Howard said.
The father is scheduled to appear in Butler County Area III Court in Union Township on Monday. He is charged with assault on a police officer, a fourth-degree felony carrying a maximum penalty of up to 18 months in jail and a $5,000 fine.
He is free on $5,050 bond.
The daughter, 17, whom The Cincinnati Enquirer is not naming because she is a juvenile, was charged with disorderly conduct, assault and resisting arrest. Butler County Juvenile Court had not received the filing as of late Thursday.
Chief Howard said that in May 1999, the student was summoned before juvenile court over her behavior at school.
Karen Jackson, school and community relations specialist for the Middletown/Monroe Schools, said the girl was disciplined last year for some minor violations of school rules.
“This is an unfortunate incident,” Ms. Jackson said. “However, last quarter she had good grades and is on track to graduate.”
The family's telephone number is unlisted, and they could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Chief Howard said the recent incident began at 11:05 a.m. Jan. 14 when the girl reportedly went to the office to telephone her father, who was to pick her up for a doctor's appointment. After several calls, office staff said she should just wait for him rather than tying up the phone.
According a report by Officer Curlis, who was nearby with Gary Leibold, an assistant principal, the student began cursing and arguing with Carmela Cotter, another assistant principal, and refused to leave the office.
When the student ignored the officer's order to stop cursing and yelling and started out the door, he told her she was under arrest and attempted to restrain her, the officer said.
Her father, who was in the parking lot, saw the altercation and rushed into the school, grabbed Officer Curlis and told him to release her, police said. Chief Howard said the student elbowed Officer Curlis in the nose.
“When Brian (Officer Curlis) started to handcuff (the father), he started to pull away with the cuffs, bent Brian's right thumb back and strained the ligaments between his thumb and forefinger,” said Chief Howard, who arrived later with other officers.
Chief Howard said police occasionally deal with small disturbances at the school, but “to have something of this magnitude. ... I've been here nine years and this is a first.”
Norris Brown, school director of pupil personnel, said the student was disciplined because of the incident. But he declined to discuss details because her father is appealing the action.
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