Oak Ridge High School is pictured above.
A 14-year-old male who refused to go to school on Wednesday possessed a tactical load bearing vest, and four students detained Thursday, including one adult student, were found near Oak Ridge High School in a car that contained drugs, a ski mask, and a hatchet, authorities said.
The news comes less than one day after the Oak Ridge Police Department announced it seized a stolen, loaded gun from the car of a student who had allegedly caused a disturbance at Oak Ridge High School and said a knife had been seized from a student during an altercation on a school bus.
In a Thursday morning press release, the ORPD said officers responded to a report of an unruly juvenile at a home on Baypath Drive at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.
“When officers arrived, they met with the mother and older sibling of a 14 year-old juvenile male who had refused to go to school,” the press release said. “Officers interviewed the juvenile and noted he was in possession of a tactical load bearing vest. Officers ultimately assisted in transporting the juvenile to the Methodist Medical Center emergency room for an evaluation, as well as coordinating with Juvenile Court authorities and referring the incident to DCS for follow-up. No criminal charges were filed. However, the investigation remains ongoing, and no further details will be released at this time.”
Then, at about 8 a.m. Thursday, Oak Ridge High School and Alternative School staff reported that an adult male Alternative School student had left campus with three juvenile male high school students, the release said.
“ORPD School Resource Officer Sherrill Selby immediately located the vehicle parked in a lot adjacent to the high school and contacted all four students, along with five additional officers who responded to her location,” the release said.
“After observing a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, all four students were detained for further investigation,” it said. “Officer Selby ultimately seized several cell phones, drug paraphernalia, controlled substances, a hatchet and a ski mask from the vehicle.
“The adult male, identified as Devin-Jose Campone, was arrested for simple possession of controlled substances in a school zone, possession of drug paraphernalia in a school zone, possession of a dangerous weapon on school property, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor(s). A second juvenile male was arrested for resisting a stop, frisk, halt, arrest, or search. The other two juveniles were escorted to the high school administrative offices and released to school officials, who were contacting the juveniles’ parents and referring the incident for administrative disciplinary hearings. The investigation remains ongoing and no further details will be released at this time.”
Jason Allison says
Sorry to say, but, everything listed has always been around. Those who say any different are just fooling themselves. When I went through ORHS you could acquire anything you could possibly think of. Why is everyone so “shocked”?
Angi Agle says
You’re correct, Jason — it was the case even 30-some years ago when I was in school. What’s different now is a better relationship between the schools and ORPD, and that press releases are being issued by ORPD to help quell the rumors.
I hate that these things have happened, but it’s a symptom of society, not of the schools. We all need to be paying closer attention to what our kids are doing.
Sam Hopwood says
You are both correct. It is just “another day at the office” at ORHS. Kinda sad. Perhaps the new police chief can make a difference there. Let’s hope so. At least he is letting us know what is going on. Refreshing…
Rob Woodward says
Do you find it concerning that a Board of Education member would make the statement that there have been armed drug dealers in school for the last thirty years and that they are only now informing the public
BSShiley says
only a blind eye would say that we only now are they coming forward with information obout the school system. It used to be however that the teachers and administration AND the parents took action and disaplined the student. NOW parents want the school system to take care of the thier kids and they dont want any part of displine. If more parents took action in thier kids lives we wouldn’t have these problem. Everyone wants to blame the school, how about looking under YOUR own roof first.
Levi D. Smith says
I remember not too long ago people were coming out with torches and pitchforks after Trina Baughn made comments about the safety and security of the Oak Ridge schools. Her comments don’t seem that far-fetched after the multiple events at Oak Ridge schools this week.
Todd Jenkins says
As a recent graduate, I am not concerned by this activity. I honestly expect things of this manner to occur as long as the school system stays around, and I won’t be surprised if it recurs.
Tom Bridgefield says
The “poll” is useless. You can vote multiple times and it’s pretty evident that it’s been skewed since it jumped from almost 50-50 to what it is showing today in just 24 hours.
johnhuotari says
Tom,
Polls on Oak Ridge Today are set to try to prevent repeat voting. Have you tried voting multiple times? If so, were you able to?
I do think the vote margin has stayed fairly consistent, at least every time I’ve checked it since the first day. I think the margin on the first day might have varied a bit and might have been closer to an even split at one point. But I think the numbers since then have been fairly consistent, with the “yes” vote ranging between about 70-78 percent.
Thank you,
John
Philip W Nipper says
John, I just tried to vote a second time. The program said it had already counted my vote….
johnhuotari says
Thanks for checking, Philip.