A stabbing incident occurred on a Clear Fork School bus on Monday afternoon, resulting in one student taken into custody and another transported to MedCentral for treatment. Responding to questions about the incident Clear Fork interim superintendent Dave Ritter told Richland Source reporter Dianna Snell, “The cameras on the bus caught the whole thing, that’s what security measures are about to protect the kids.”
Bellville Police Chief Ron Willey issued the following report.
On August 26, 2013 at approximately 3:30 p.m., the Bellville Police Department responded to Clear Fork High School in reference to a reported stabbing that occurred on a Clear Fork bus commuting Knox County Career students to the high school.
According to witnesses, a verbal confrontation began between two 15 year old male students. The confrontation soon escalated to a fight between the two. At some point during the fight one of the males grabbed a “box cutter” from his person and began striking the other male causing injury to his head and neck area during the struggle.
Other students on the bus broke up the fight and secured the box cutter, turning it over to the bus driver. An ambulance from Jefferson Township Fire responded to treat the victim when the bus arrived at the high school. The student was then transported to Med Central Mansfield. No other students were injured during the incident.
The 15-year-old suspect was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Richland County Detention Center. The box cutter was recovered. The 15-year-old victim was treated and released from Med Central Mansfield.
“This incident is still under investigation and we are currently still gathering information about the incident and what led up to the fight,” stated Willey, “We hope to finish speaking to additional witnesses and then present our findings to the Richland County Prosecutors Office for review and any additional charges from that review.
“We are working with the Clear Fork Administration to provide them information that they will need so that they can take appropriate action in conjunction to the rules and policies of the district. The Bellville Police Department and the Clear Fork School District have a zero tolerance for this type of activity and it will be dealt with as swiftly as possible so as to ensure the safety and well-being of the students.”
“The Bellville Police Department and the Clear Fork School District have a zero tolerance for this type of activity,” stated Chief Ron Willey.
