Updated 5:12 p.m. with a response from the South Orange-Maplewood School District.
A 16-year-old male student and a 15-year-old female student have been charged with simple assault, after allegedly attacking a 16-year-old female student outside Columbia High School on January 18.
The incident happened at about 3:15 p.m. on the sidewalk near Valley Street and Parker Avenue, according to Maplewood Police.
Police are currently investigating the reported assault and are asking for witnesses or anyone with information to contact the Youth Aid Bureau at 973-762-3400. Although a South Orange-Maplewood School District spokesperson would not directly say whether or not the students involved were suspended, she did say that “School consequences follow the Code of Conduct.” According to the SOMSD Code of Conduct, “infractions that are highly serious or cause imminent danger to self or others” and that involve police or fire department involvement result in possible “long-term suspension or expulsion.”
According to reports, there were “multiple on-lookers” at the scene.
“Based upon the evidence developed through investigation thus far and after consultation with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, one female-age 15 and one male-age 16, both CHS students have each been charged with simple assault,” stated a press release from the Maplewood Police. “Based upon the evidence available at the present time, the incident is not classified as a Bias Crime. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident is requested to contact the Maplewood Police Department Youth Aid Bureau.”
Here is the full response of South Orange-Maplewood School District Spokeswoman Suzanne Turner:
In spite of how public things often are in our social media culture, we have a legal and ethical responsibility to protect the privacy of all of our students, and further legal privacy considerations when students are minors. This particular incident is currently the subject of an ongoing police investigation. We therefore are not at liberty to comment on the reported incident.
I can, however, clarify our procedures when students are alleged to have been involved with incidents such as those described in the press release.
The safety and security of students is always our first priority.
Incidents are investigated in parallel by school administrators and by law enforcement agencies when allegations of potentially criminal misconduct are brought to our attention. Our district and schools work closely with MPD and SOPD and the Essex County Prosecutor’s and Sheriff’s Offices, as need be. School consequences follow the Code of Conduct.
