Aycock students charged
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on December 4, 2014 1:46 PM
Extra deputies were on campus at Charles B. Aycock High School this morning in the aftermath of a fight that broke out at the school Wednesday that saw a 15-year-old get tased and resulted in three students being arrested and charged by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.
Ken Derksen, director of communication services for Wayne County Public Schools, said the decision to assign additional law enforcement was appropriate under the circumstances.
"We had four extra officers, deputies, in response to what happened yesterday," he said.
Derksen said the situation had spawned rumors on social media that the fight had been a spillover from an earlier altercation, and hinted at "things that might happen today."
The altercation on Wednesday prior to the start of school reportedly occurred on the 100 wing at the school.
According to a report from the Sheriff's Office, the school resource officer responded and discovered one student on top of another, assaulting him.
Deputy Kenneth Grice made several attempts to intervene, but the student disregarded the order and began attacking another student.
The officer deployed and used his taser on the student, a 15-year-old male, which brought the situation under control.
After further investigation, the student was charged on a juvenile petition with engaging in an affray and communication of a threat, the latter involving a threat the student made to a vice principal at the school.
The other two students involved were also charged.
Lebar Leslie, 17, 1950 Hinnant Road, Pikeville, and Jaquan Ray, 18, 1871 Hinnant Road, Pikeville, were charged on citation with engaging in an affray.
Derksen said in this day of social media, it is not unusual for rumors to surface, and the district takes such matters seriously.
"We certainly wanted to make sure that we promote a safe learning environment and provide students and staff peace of mind just knowing they're here," he said. "We wanted to have some extra law enforcement present."
He also expressed appreciation for the Sheriff's Office in providing additional deputies.
Sheriff Larry Pierce said earlier that Deputy Grice was on temporary duty at the school and had been reassigned to a permanent post.
He added that the he believes the deputy had responded appropriately in the situation.