A chaotic chain of events sent riot-gear-clad police to gain control of a Moreno Valley high school at lunchtime Friday, after an arrest sparked outrage among dozens of students who surrounded a school resource officer and lashed out at school officials.
A small scuffle started after an officer tried to make an arrest at Canyon Springs High School, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Six students were arrested.
Students who witnessed the scene said the older brother of a student was spotted on campus, and when the resource officer forced him to leave, the student and the officer got into a shoving match. The officer was able to fight off the student and handcuff him. A large group of students began shouting and surrounding the officer as he was taking the teen into custody.
Junior Ryan Malachi said the resource officer slammed the student against a wall, setting off some of the fighting. School Dean Alvin De Johnette and another student got into a physical altercation, said Malachi and other students standing in the parking lot after school was dismissed.
“He (De Johnette) pulled the shirt over my homeboy’s head. My homeboy swung at Mr. De Johnette,” Malachi said, but it appears that no one was injured.
The officer called for backup as several fights started simultaneously between the students, Moreno Valley Police Lt. Bill Tyler said.
Junior Shannon Halcromb said about six people ran into his geometry class after police told students to go into a classroom or they would be arrested.
“There were so many cops. We were standing at the window. We seen a whole bunch of them with stun rods,” Halcromb said.
Five juvenile students were arrested and booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of creating a public disturbance and resisting arrest, police said. One will also be charged with possession of a knife on campus.
An adult student also was arrested and booked into jail in connection with the assault on the school official. Several of the juveniles were treated at a local hospital for injuries they received during the fight. None of the involved officers were injured during the altercation.
Parents and students said scuffles are common at the school and other campuses in Moreno Valley.