Kids Arrested for Food Fight

Students kept at police station for hours, parents say

By MATT BARTOSIK

Updated 11:36 AM CST, Tue, Nov 10, 2009

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School Nutrition Association

Mom always told you not to play with your food. She probably didn't tell you that you could get arrested for it though.

More than two dozen students, ranging in age from 11 to 15 years old, were arrested on criminal charges after a food fight in a cafeteria at a Chicago charter school.

According to reports, a good old-fashioned food fight broke out Thursday at the Perspectives Charter Schools in Calumet. Someone tossed a piece of food, someone else threw an orange, someone yelled "Food fight!," and chaos ensued.

Twenty-five students were taken into custody at about 12 noon and charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct.

We remember when students were just sent giggling to the principal's office. But apparently, now some fries in the sky will earn a trip to the police station. Who knew handcuffs came in an 11-year-old's size?

To make matters worse, the students' parents allege that police kept their kids at the Gresham District police station for over 5 hours before they were notified.

Parents are also concerned that the charges could affect future jobs and college applications. Even if the charges are dropped, the offense will remain on the students' juvenile records until they are 17.

So remember, kids: a food fight is grounds for arrest. Especially if you're throwing Brussels sprouts. Those are just nasty.

Matt Bartosik, a "between blogs" blogger, lives to fight another day.

Copyright NBC Local Media / NBC Chicago

First Published: Nov 9, 2009 11:58 AM CST

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0 Comments

{"totSize":13,"payload_type":"json","status":"1","results":[{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"388834_69575092","adminTags":null,"views":1278,"createdBy":15856908,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Kids Arrested for Food Fight","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2703931,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"10 Nov 2009 13:09:09 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"ClintJCL","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1219613","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Wow. And this isn't the first time something like this has happened, either. Yes, let's mess up their college applications and teenage employment. That's fair.[/sarcasm]"},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"388834_69575092","adminTags":null,"views":1278,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Kids Arrested for Food Fight","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2703931,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"10 Nov 2009 18:09:25 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1221719","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"It's about time schools stood up to ilbehaved students. Hey parents, it's not the school's responsibility to raise your child!!! If you throw something at someone, its assault. You might want to tell your kids that."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"388834_69575092","adminTags":null,"views":1278,"createdBy":10421867,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Kids Arrested for Food Fight","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2703931,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"10 Nov 2009 22:31:38 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"Alans","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1223703","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Why cant the teachers restore order without the cops? The cops love this, they get on the report sheet, and they dont care who gets hurt in the process. Typical Chicago, County,State Thug Policy. They have no sensitivity. Yes expell the studnts responsible, set an example that bad behavior wont be tolerated. Parent should share in this problem, because they have not taught the children what is Right & Wrong. "},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"388834_69575092","adminTags":null,"views":1278,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Kids Arrested for Food Fight","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2703931,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"10 Nov 2009 23:16:52 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1223979","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"I went to a Chicago Public Grade School and I don't care how innocent news stories and reports want to make this look....when a food fight starts with 10, 15, 20, 25 kids, chaos ensues and someone could get seriously injured. I'm sure kids weren't half as bad when I was in grade school in comparison to now, so I can only imagine how some students felt threatened and genuinely assaulted. Bottom line: kids are your responsibility to raise, teach manners, morals, discipline and love. I know many a child where school is their daycare and their parents teach them little. If you don't have the time and effort to raise a child ...plan ahead and choose not to conceive one. "},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"388834_69575092","adminTags":null,"views":1278,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Kids Arrested for Food Fight","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2703931,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"11 Nov 2009 20:24:47 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1229124","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"I think this is total crazy. I agree with most that your child is your responsibility, but when I go to work and my child is in the care of the school. The school needs to handle these problems. I should not be coming home to find that the school had my child arrested for a food fight. I would have the teaches arrested for child in dangerment and nelected. The teaches who lost control are just as resoponseable for the "Chaos" that took place. I don't care if it is lack of training, or just poor judgement How do you let it get to the point where you have to call the cops on 11-15year kids. "}],"error":"","totPages":3}