[JHeath]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=47934.07

Teen Attacks Classmate

Stan Maddux
For The News-Dispatch

LA PORTE - A La Porte High School girl could face expulsion from school for attacking a classmate.

At about 1 p.m. Tuesday, La Porte city police said a 17-year-old girl was walking to class from lunch when the 15-year-old suspect attacked her in a hallway.

According to police, the younger girl began pushing the 17-year-old and threw her against a wall. While trying to break free, the victim had her pony tail pulled so hard that strands of hair were pulled from her scalp.

Sgt. Larry Mitchell, the police department's school liaison, said he saw up to 50 students watching the attack, but none of them did anything to separate the two students.

The 15-year-old girl said the victim would not allow her to sit next to her in the cafeteria and made hurtful remarks. She was removed from the building and will be arrested for Class A misdemeanor battery, Mitchell said.

La Porte Police Chief of Detectives Dennis Behenna said suspects are not arrested right away in some cases, especially when the allegations involve a juvenile. He said the biggest reason is difficulty contacting parents immediately.

Many times, he said, notices to appear in court have to be issued to the parents before an arrest can be made.

"There's nothing to say we have to make the arrest right off the bat," said Behenna.

Whether the girl will be further disciplined at school is up to school officials.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Oh, that will make her want to sit by her now, dontcha think?