NEWS RELEASE

RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT 31 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL 60546

21 March 2014
Contact:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chief Tom Weitzel
tweitzel@riverside.il.us

708.447.2127

Follow RPD on Twitter @pdriverside

Riverside Police Charge Juvenile with Numerous Felonies after Fight at School
Assault in hallway leads to numerous charges

On Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 12:21 p.m., the Riverside Police Department received a 911 call from the high school of a fight that was occurring in a hallway located within the school property. When the first officer arrived, he found school security officers holding a student to the floor who was continuing to fight to get free. The Riverside Officer asked for additional assistance and police personnel, school security and teacher staff assisted in taking the suspect into custody. As the student emerged from the fight, he continued to resist arrest with Riverside Police while being transported from the school facility to the police car parked in front of the high school on Ridgewood Road. He continued to fight with officers when they returned to the police station. Officers had to physically restrain the 17-year-old juvenile numerous times during this incident. It was learned that the offender, a 17-year-old male juvenile from Bellwood, became extremely enraged over an exchange of messages on social media sites over the Internet. The male offender had been making threats over the Internet towards two female students at the high school. When these female students broke off their friendship with the male student, he became extremely upset that the friendship was terminated and attacked one of the females in the hallway. The offender attacked the female by slamming her head into the walls and floor. As teachers and security staff intervened, he continued to fight with them injuring one security guard and a school staffer. Both the school security staff member and the female victim were transported to Loyola University Medical Center for head and eye injuries. Both were treated and released later that same day.

There were several students and staff member that witnessed this attack and Riverside Police took numerous witness statements as they began their investigation. During the investigation, police learned that the 17-year-old juvenile is a ward of the state and in DCFS custody. Riverside Police contacted his DCFS caseworker and DCFS reported to the Riverside Police Department to assist in the investigation. It was further learned that the male juvenile who was staying in Bellwood actually lived in Romania and had run away from Romania last year and ended up in New York City. At that time he was returned to his mother in Romania. He again ran away and made his way to Chicago where he currently has become a ward of the state and is in DCFS custody. After interviewing all the victims and witnesses in the case, the Riverside Police Department charged the juvenile offender with multiple offenses. The 17-year-old male juvenile from Bellwood was charged with four counts of felony aggravated battery, one count of simple battery, one count of resisting arrest and one count of disorderly conduct. The aggravated battery charges come from battery to the student, staff member, and two security officers. Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel stated, This incident this was not a fight. It was an unprovoked attack by a 17-year-old male juvenile on a female student which eventually escalated into attacking both security personnel, staff members and police officers. The offender, who stands 6 feet tall and over 250 pounds, had to be physically restrained through the entire process. Attacks against school staff or security personnel will never be tolerated by the Riverside Police and my officers will respond quickly and swiftly to take control of a situation and ensure that proper charges are brought against the offender. Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel filed an official complaint with the individual's DCFS caseworker and has objected to the student continuing to be allowed to attend Riverside Brookfield High School; however that is a decision that has to be made by DCFS. Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel stated, In light of the situation that took place in the school, I believe the individual should not be allowed to attend school in the future at Riverside Brookfield High School. An alternative location should be sought by DCFS. I made my opinion very clear to the DCFS caseworker. Riverside Police are continuing to investigate this incident as after the juvenile was turned back over to DCFS, police received additional information on other threats that were being made over social media accounts. The police are currently actively investigating those complaints and more information on that incident will be released as soon as the investigation is completed.

Chief Weitzel praised school staff as they responded quickly to this situation and worked directly with police personnel on the entire situation and follow up.

###