Rogers High Student Charged With Assaulting Classmate

NEWPORT, RI — An argument in gym class on June 5 turned physical, police allege. According to the arrest report, a 16-year-old turned herself into officers Tuesday morning at the Newport Police station. She is facing a misdemeanor Simple assault or battery charge. According to the arrest report, the 16-year-old was in gym class when another student confronted her and accused her of spreading rumors.

When police interviewed the victim, she refused to say what the rumors were about. But the argument turned violent. The suspect struck her in the back of her head. Two other girls jumped into the fight to help the suspect and also hit the victim in the head. A teacher tried to break up the fight, but the victim had already suffered several blows.

Police met the victim and her father at Rogers High. She was crying, and officers did see a contusion on the back of her head. The police took photographs and also took a verbal statement. The father said they would complete written statements later. Then the student's father took her to Newport Hospital, where she was treated for a concussion.