Parents Assaulted Cop During School Fight In Gloucester Twp.: Police

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Two parents assaulted an officer during a fight last week at Highland Regional High School, authorities said.

The parents and two students engaged in a physical altercation at about 1:30 p.m. March 20 in the school's front vestibule, police said. Both adults have been charged, while charges against the students are pending as of Wednesday.

Both parents instigated the fight, while one of the students suddenly assaulted the other, authorities said. The school resource officer and school staff quickly responded to the incident, according to police.

During the altercation, one of the parents, Brianne Mitchell, threw a small garden planter pot, which struck the intervening school resource officer and the second parent, Krystal Turner, according to law enforcement.

Turner scratched the officer, causing a minor injury, police said.

The officer and school staff broke up the fight before additional officers arrived. The incident was contained to the vestibule, so the involved parties had no access to the school's interior or any other students, authorities said.

Both parents and one officer were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Mitchell, 41, of Clementon, was charged with aggravated assault (third-degree), aggravated assault of an officer (fourth-degree) and simple assault (disorderly persons offense).

Turner, 38, of Blackwood, was charged with aggravated assault of an officer (third-degree) and disorderly conduct (petty disorderly persons offense).

Police did not disclose the identities of the students, who are both minors.