Middle school student faces possible charges after alleged firearm comment

PARKE COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A Parke Heritage Middle School student faces expulsion and possible charges after he made comments about having a firearm in his backpack.

According to Parke County Sheriff, Jason Frazier, at 9:08 a.m. a School Resource Officer at Parke Heritage Middle School notified the sheriff’s office that a 6th-grade student allegedly made a comment while on the bus, while on his way to school, about having a firearm in his backpack.

School officials searched the student’s locker and property and did not locate a firearm or any related materials. The Sheriff noted that the student was on a field trip at Racoon Lake.

School staff separated the alleged suspect and his personal property from the other students on the field trip.

According to Sheriff Frazier, Parke County Deputies arrived at Racoon Lake at 9:17 a.m. and made contact with the student. His belongings and the bus that transported him on the field trip were searched. No firearm or related material was found.

Parke County Deputies then made contact with the family at the alleged suspect’s residence. To verify the boy had no access to firearms, the residence and property were searched. No firearms were found.

According to Sheriff Frazier, the criminal investigation into the incident is ongoing and any charges will be forwarded to the Parke County Prosecutor’s Office. Frazier added that school officials have initiated the process to expel the student for one year.

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