Principal Confiscates Student Journalist's Camera

Principal Gil Compton allegedly snatched the camera out of the hand of a student photojournalist today.

Jack Strutz, a Chaparral High School student, was shooting photos of a protest over a fired football coach during lunch break today when the principal grabbed the camera – worth more than $1,000 – along with his keys, Strutz said.

“He tried to grab at it and he missed, but he ripped my keys off my neck,” he said.

Seeing Compton wanted to take the camera, Strutz secretly took the memory card out and pocketed it.  Compton then grabbed for the camera again, and this time, he got it, Strutz said.

Later, when the student went to Compton’s office to get the camera and his keys back, the principal demanded the student hand over the camera’s memory card, which held photos of the protest.

“He starts asking for my memory card, and I say, no, it’s my property,” Strutz said. When the principal threatened to get law enforcement involved, Strutz caved in and handed over the memory card.

Compton could not be reached before this story's publication time.

CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this story, the photos were credited to Tyler Gallagher. They were actually created by Shane Magee, according to Tyler Gallagher.