GROVEPORT – Police in Groveport say they will continue to keep an eye on Groveport-Madison High School after two large fights broke out Monday morning, resulting in the arrests of two teens.
The fight, which apparently stemmed from a Hallowe’en party in Columbus over the weekend, involved six to eight students and a large number of onlookers, broke out during a class change at the school at approximately 9:00 a.m., Groveport police Chief Ralph Portier said.
Groveport Police responded, along with officers from Obetz, Madison Township and deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
It is important to keep in mind that of the 1,800 students at Groveport Madison High School, 98% of them behaved just as they are expected, and they are just as frustrated with today’s incidents as the rest of us. -statement on the Groveport-Madison Local Schools Facebook page
Following the first incident, a rumor started that there was a gun on school property, according to a post on the school district’s social media page. The building was placed on a “Level 2” lockdown where no class changes were allowed take place and no one was allowed to enter or leave the school but the school district’s social media page reported that there was no evidence found that a weapon was on school property.
Two 15-year-olds will likely be charged with disorderly conduct for fighting through the Franklin County Juvenile Court and others will face discipline from the school, Portier said.
District officials said a large group of students “added to the situation by yelling, pushing and encouraging the disorder.”
Officers remained at or near the school throughout the day and district officials said extra officers would be at the school for the next several days, district officials said.