FROM STAFF REPORTS

A juvenile faces criminal charges, including assault on a law enforcement officer, following an incident at the Statesville High School football stadium last Friday night.

Several Statesville Police Department officers were providing security at Friday’s game against South Iredell High when they were notified of a disturbance under the bleachers involving multiple individuals near the end of the game, according to an SPD news release.

Officers immediately moved to the location of the incident and began instructing individuals to leave the area and exit the property in an effort to maintain safety and order at the event, police said.

During this process, a 15-year-old juvenile was instructed to leave the area but became argumentative with staff, according to the news release.

Despite officers’ attempts to guide the juvenile towards the exit, the situation escalated when the juvenile struck one of the SPD officers, police said. The officer attempted to take the juvenile into custody, resulting in a struggle between the officer and the juvenile. Both the officer and the juvenile went to the ground during the struggle, police said.

The juvenile was taken into custody and charged with Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting Arrest, and Injury to Personal Property.

Iredell-Statesville Schools Superintendent Jeff James said the juvenile facing charges was a student at West Iredell High School. In addition to criminal charges, the student faces disciplinary action from the school district.

As part of its standard procedure, the SPD conducts a thorough review of all incidents involving the use of force by its police officers. The incident in question is currently in the review process, police said.