UPDATE Two Juveniles Arrested After Lock-Down at OHS Monday
The Owatonna High School went into lock-down on Monday, February 11, around noon, in response to some racist posts on Social Media over the weekend. The Owatonna Police Department, with assistance from the Steele County Sheriff's Department, and the Minnesota State Patrol responded to a fight at the school. There was a large group of students shouting and being disruptive.
Two juveniles were arrested and taken into custody, they were formally charged in Steele County yesterday, One student is charged with fourth-degree assault of a peace officer inflicting demonstrable bodily harm, a felony, as well as misdemeanor counts of obstructing the legal process and fifth-degree assault. The other is charged with fourth-degree assault of a peace officer, a gross misdemeanor, and obstructing the legal process, a misdemeanor. There was a third juvenile who was cited for trespassing and released.
The community release from the Owatonna Police Department stated that any reports of weapons used was "erroneous," and that Gold Cross was there to respond to medical emergencies not related to any assault. You can read that release here. There is an updated release which states:
"Two students who were arrested and held in a juvenile detention center were formally charged by a juvenile delinquency petition in Steele County District Court on February 12, 2019. One student was charged with 4th Degree Assault of a peace officer – demonstrable bodily harm, a felony, assault in the fifth degree, a misdemeanor, and obstructing legal process, a misdemeanor. The second student was charged with 4th Degree Assault of a peace officer – physically assaulting, a gross misdemeanor, and obstructing legal process, a misdemeanor. The juveniles will not be named in this matter. Investigators and school officials are working closely with this investigation that remains active and on-going; therefore, the police department is not providing any further information or details about the investigation at this time. Persons following the events on social media should be mindful that videos posted to social media sites are a very small snapshot of the events that took place and do not capture a complete picture of the events that occurred. "
Superintendent Jeff Elstad sent an email out to the parents in the district which said,
"Hello this is Jeff Elstad, superintendent for the Owatonna Public Schools. I wanted to take a moment to update you on some facts about the events that took place yesterday and to reassure you that we are taking the necessary steps to ensure a safe environment for our students. Safety continues to be our number one priority, here are a few updates for you to know: Additional safety precautions will be implemented for the foreseeable future at Owatonna High School. These precautions have been communicated to both staff and students at Owatonna High School. If students are in need of additional assistance, counselors and social workers are available to provide on-going support at their school building. We care deeply about all of our students and will continue to work together to create a positive and welcoming environment for our schools. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and support as we move forward."
You can also read more about this here.