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25 Chicago Kids Jailed After Food Fight

Students face criminal charges, and parents are outraged

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 11, 2009 11:46 AM CST

(Newser) – Twenty-five Chicago students ages 11 to 15 had to cool their heels in jail for 5 hours last week after a food fight at their school apparently got out of hand. The kids face charges of misdemeanor reckless conduct, NBC Chicago reports. Parents are angry that their kids were treated like criminals and worried that a rap sheet will affect college applications.

An on-campus police officer witnessed the fracas and called for a backup, resulting in a large police presence—and a large number of arrests. The incident was “unfortunate,” a school official tells the New York Times. Parents think that's an understatement. “They were handcuffed, slammed in a wagon, had their mug shots taken and treated like real criminals,” says one. Come on, “who hasn’t had a food fight?”

[Images (1)]

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$A school cafeteria was the scene of the fracas.$

A school cafeteria was the scene of the fracas. (AP Photo)

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They’re all scared. You never know how children will be impacted by that. I was all for some other kind of punishment, but not jail. Who hasn’t had a food fight? - Erica Russell, parent

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 32 comments

usmc52@peoplepc.com

Nov 12, 2009 12:51 PM CST

It is a sure bet, no of you pukes work in a middle or high school. Your generation is the reason we have this bad (bad ass dependant) shit. You want to be your kids friend. He will be kicking your ass and taking your car next. Then who you gonna call!! The cops. Were I them, I will tell you gfy!!

schmidtkoff

Nov 12, 2009 12:13 PM CST

@dax - i like hardboiled eggs, lol. and i'm sure ms. velotte has long since left this world, with no egg on her face!

Silverbow7

Nov 12, 2009 7:40 AM CST

The wise application of instruction to the seat of learning civilizes a child. "He who spares the rod spoils the child." More filled jails and prisons will show the wisdom of this truth.

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Crime & Courts • US

Chicago • misdemeanor • arrest • middle school • students • food fight • reckless conduct

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25 Chicago Kids Jailed After Food Fight