TR South Student Arrested After Punching School Safety Officer

Toms River police Monday morning arrested a 17-year-old Toms River High School South student after he punched a school safety officer and stole cash from a cafeteria cash register, spokesman Ralph Stocco said.

Patrol Officer Brian Jarka responded to the cafeteria at the high school at 8:30 a.m. on a report of an “out of control” student. The student - who lives in South Toms River - was reported to be wandering the halls and not in his assigned classroom, Stocco said.

When he was approached by school staff as he was entering the cafeteria - which was being used for study hall at the time - he refused to stop and entered the kitchen. An adult school safety officer tried to speak to the student, who was agitated, he said.

“The young man suddenly turned towards the officer and punched him in the side of the head, knocking him to the ground,” Stocco said. “He then reached into the cash register and removed ten dollars and attempted to flee.”

Several school employees and another student held the youth down until Jarka arrived. Jarka tried to handcuff him while the student was on the ground, but the student resisted, Stocco said.

The youth was eventually brought under control and later taken to a juvenile detention facility. The student was charged with aggravated assault on a school employee, resisting arrested and robbery, Stocco said.