3 Students Charged After Fight At Middle School: Manatee Sheriff

PALMETTO, FL — Two students were arrested and face charges after a Monday evening fight at Buffalo Creek Middle School in Palmetto, according to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office news release.

One of the students hit the school resource officer as he tried to break up the fight, the agency said.

A 14-year-old student was charged with affray (fighting) and batter on a law enforcement officer, a felony.

Though the sheriff’s office named the student, it’s Patch’s policy to not name those in the juvenile justice system. The agency didn’t indicate whether the teen was charged as a juvenile or an adult.

Another 14-year-old student was charged with fighting, while a 13-year-old was criminally charged via a juvenile referral. He claimed to be defending his cousin, who was being bullied.

The school resource officer saw a group of students fighting around 5:30 p.m.

While trying to physically separate the male students, the deputy was hit several times in the face, causing an injury to his jaw, MCSO said.

The deputy radioed for back-up, and within minutes, multiple patrol deputies responded and took the students involved into custody.

The injured deputy was transported to a local hospital for treatment and he was later released.