Incident Date: 05/18/2023
Release Date: 06/14/2023
Incident number: VE23-04795
Prepared By: Chief David Dresser
Details:
On Friday, May 18th, the Verona Police Department was dispatched to the Verona Area High School for a disruptive student who was reportedly being physical with security staff. When officers arrived, a 17-year-old student had been detained by security staff and the security director reported being bitten by the student during the altercation.
The Verona Police Department investigated the disturbance and learned the Director of Security & Crisis Management struck the 17-year-old in the head and was the first to initiate any physical contact during the disturbance. After completing the investigation and after a careful review of the facts, it was determined the act of physically striking the juvenile in this instance was not legally justified and was considered an assault. The Verona Police Department asked the Dane County District Attorney’s office to complete an independent review of the facts and they agreed a crime had occurred and filed a Criminal Complaint charging the security director with Physical Abuse to a Child.
The Verona Area School District was completely responsive and cooperative during the investigation, and they conducted their own independent internal investigation.
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