Details of Friday basketball tournament disturbance at Gaiser Middle School continue to be revealed
VANCOUVER — A Vancouver Public Schools administrator confirmed to ClarkCountyToday.com Monday morning that students involved in a disturbance at Gaiser Middle School Friday evening assaulted police officers and school officials who were attempting to get the incident under control.
“School officials and law enforcement were punched and spit on by students,’’ the administrator told ClarkCountyToday.com.
The administrator confirmed previous reports from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office that the incident started with a student vs. student argument in the bleachers during a game in a season-ending basketball tournament involving teams from multiple schools.
“School officials and security got involved,’’ the administrator said Monday morning, “started to escort one of those students out of the gym. Other students converged to intervene on that student’s behalf, to prevent him from having to leave. It escalated into students being physical with school staff. Law enforcement was called in, and students continued to be abusive toward law enforcement. Deputies followed their protocol, getting back-up for more support.’’
Clark County Sheriff’s Office personnel were joined by officers from the Washington State Patrol and Vancouver Police Department in an attempt to gain control of the situation. As many as 33 police units were on the scene.
“No weapons were seen. No weapons confiscated,’’ the Vancouver Public Schools administrator told ClarkCountyToday.com. “However, threats of the use of weapons from students toward law enforcement and school officials were heard.’’
After sharing the district’s preliminary finding, the administrator said “the district will be investigating more through video and witness accounts.’’
Nine juveniles were arrested Friday night. ClarkCountyToday.com learned the students arrested were from multiple schools in the area. They were arrested on various charges, including: Trespass, Fail to Disperse, Assault IV, Assault III, Disorderly Conduct, and Resisting Arrest.
Gaiser Middle School is located at 3000 NE 99th Street in Vancouver, and is in the Vancouver School District.
ClarkCountyToday.com will continue to pursue more information about this story.
