Chatterton student arraigned on criminal charges

WARREN — Educators in the Fitzgerald Public Schools and Warren Consolidated Schools districts are reminding parents to talk to their students about making good choices after a pair of school threats this month.

On Feb. 7, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office issued a press release reporting that a 13-year-old Chatterton Middle School student was charged in juvenile court after he allegedly threatened to kill another student. Chatterton is part of Fitzgerald Public Schools.

Reports of a school threat also circulated in the Warren Consolidated Schools district.

 

Alleged threat at Chatterton Middle School
On Feb. 7, the Chatterton student was charged with making an intentional threat to commit an act of violence against a school, school employee or students with specific intent.

It is alleged that on Feb. 6, the Chatterton student threatened to bring a gun to school to kill another student, following a fight the previous day. The defendant also stated he had access to a gun.

During his preliminary examination Wednesday, Macomb County Chief Referee Linda Harrison denied bond based on the seriousness of the offense.  The juvenile also received a mental health evaluation.

The teenager is being held in the Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center in Mount Clemens. The crime is a 10-year felony if convicted.

“We take any threat made by a juvenile at school very seriously. Such actions not only endanger the safety of the student but also disrupt the entire educational environment,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said in a prepared statement. “Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all students, and we will vigorously pursue consequences to stop such behavior.”

On Feb. 7, Fitzgerald Public Schools Superintendent Hollie Stange distributed a letter to parents and guardians. She said Chatterton’s administration was made aware that a fight had occurred on Feb. 5 and that two students were suspended pending an investigation.

On Feb. 6, school officials continued the investigation and discovered the dispute began on a gaming platform, and that a threat had been made from the 13-year-old to the other student. Staff members then contacted the Warren Police Department, which took over the investigation and apprehended the student the evening of Feb. 6.

Stange thanked law enforcement “for their swift and strong action.” In the letter, she also explained why school officials waited to contact parents.

“We apologize for the delay in this communication, at the time it was discussed on the news we had not been notified about the conclusion of the investigation,” Stange said in the letter. “Our procedure is to communicate with Warren Police and then we send out communications to all district staff and community members about incidences. It is essential that we have, and share correct information for the safety of all. Our priority last night was to work with Chatterton staff and Chatterton parents to assure a smooth day for students today.”

No other information about the students was released.

A pretrial hearing for the teen was scheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 21 before Macomb County Juvenile Court Referee George Keller.

 

Warren Consolidated Schools incidents
In the Warren Consolidated Schools district, a letter from Superintendent Robert Livernois was distributed throughout the district Feb. 6 to let parents know that a Carleton Middle School student allegedly told a few students on the bus that he had a gun. According to the letter, there was “an immediate response from the Warren Police Department who took the student into custody and verified there was no weapon.”

In another incident, at Carter Middle School, a student reportedly showed some classmates at lunch a “Japanese Anime” style knife that he brought to school “by accident.” Several students shared that information with an adult, “which led to a quick resolution,” according to Livernois. The letter does not state the date of the incident.

On Feb. 7 Warren Consolidated Schools officials addressed students at Willow Woods Elementary School, Grissom Middle School and Warren Mott High School for saying something inappropriate about a weapon, none of which was credible, Livernois stated in the letter.

Both Stange and Livernois reminded parents to talk to their children about the seriousness of saying or writing anything on social media that could get them into trouble. They also encouraged students to let an adult know any time they feel threatened, and stressed to parents that school officials are taking every precaution to keep students and staff safe.