'Chaotic And Violent': Police Chief Wants Criminal Charges Against 20 HS Students In Series Of Fights

CRETE, IL — Twenty students could face criminal charges after a series of fights erupted at Crete-Monee High School earlier this month, creating a "chaotic, dangerous" environment and forcing the school into a lockdown, Crete Police Chief Scott Pieritz said Thursday.

Pieritz has petitioned the Will County State's Attorney's Office to approve charges of disorderly conduct, battery and mob action for nearly two dozen students involved.

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On May 12, multiple fights broke out at the school, playing out on social media with videos being shared and causing "community uproar and disharmony," Pieritz wrote.

"I immediately initiated an investigation into this incident to hold those accountable," Pieritz said. "SRO Rodd, detectives, and other officers worked diligently reviewing video footage and information to identify the offenders."

In a letter to the state's attorney's office, Pieritz emphasized the need to press charges against the juveniles.

"I find it necessary to write this letter due to the seriousness of this incident, the public safety concern for all students and staff of the Crete-Monee High School, a deterrent against future violent and disruptive acts, and for the retention of public confidence in the police department restoring order in the school," the letter reads.

Pieritz stressed that the incident went beyond the "simple fights" commonly known to happen in high school settings that are easily broken up when teachers or staff arrive on the scene.

"The juveniles involved in this fight ignored commands and pleas by teachers and school security staff to end their conduct," Pieritz wrote. "In fact, many juveniles pushed past security and teachers, inciting further violence and unrest in the school. A security guard was injured during these incidents, causing them to seek medical care at a hospital. Luckily, no one else was seriously hurt."

Rumors of weapons used in the fights quickly spread, Pieritz said, with one false report stating that a juvenile had been thrown over a balcony. News agencies then published the misinformation, Pieritz said.

"This caused a frenzy of responses on social media, including those questioning the safety of students in Crete schools, disparaging remarks about the school administration, Village of Crete, and police department," he said. "In addition, students shared videos of the fight(s) on social media which went viral, inciting negative feedback from the community, including racially charged comments."

The school works closely with Crete police, he said, with a full-time school resource officer assigned there. That officer uses "selective enforcement," he said, deferring most minor juvenile issues to school staff for resolution through corrective school actions and not punitive law enforcement action or arrests.

"The police department understands that most juveniles make mistakes and that minor mistakes or infractions should not be overly punished or need law enforcement involvement," Pieritz said.

"This incident was not minor in nature and went far beyond small juvenile infractions or mistakes. This incident was chaotic and violent, disrupting the entire school and causing the school to be closed the following day. The juveniles in this incident had no regard for rules, or the safety of other students, staff, and security personnel. These juveniles created a dangerous environment, engaging in a mob mentality and action, causing a severe breach of the peace, which alarmed and disturbed the staff, other students, and the community as a whole."

In a notice to the community about the move to pursue charges, Pieritz reassured them that the department is committed to the safety and security of the school, and that while he believes in selective enforcement, that does not suffice in this incident.

"This is a prime example when it was not appropriate, and the police department needed to step up and hold those juveniles accountable," he said. "We have all seen the 'teen takeover' mobs occurring around the country, we cannot and will not allow that mentality to take root in our town.

"This incident in no way represents the vast majority of students at the high school, who I know to be good kids , just trying to navigate their teenage years."