West Potomac Student Charged With Assault After Pep Rally

FORT HUNT, VA—Homecoming week took a turn for the worse at West Potomac High School Thursday. A 16-year-old student has been arrested and charged with assault after confronted by an assistant principal and school resource officer.

Police say the incident happened after a pep rally around 2:50 p.m. The assistant principal and SRO approached the student about potential illegal activity when police believe the student attached the assistant principal.

The SRO attempted to take the student into custody, but the student fought back and assaulted him. The two went to the ground while a crowd of about 100 students surrounded them.

The SRO called for emergency back up and unsuccessfully tried to get the students to move, but they continued to close in on the officer. The SRO pulled out a electronic control weapon but did not use it. Eventually the SRO and staff were able to pull the student into a locker room, and arriving officers helped to disperse the crowd.

The student sustained a cut from the struggle. The SRO was not injured. Police say they are continuing to investigate.

The 16-year-old was charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, assault on a school official, and disorderly conduct charges. He was taken to the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center.

Image via Fairfax County Public Schools