Ten Clayton County high school students were arrested after a food fight erupted Tuesday morning at the school.
The incident began when an assistant principal at Lovejoy High School called police to report a student for gambling around 11:15, Officer Phong Nguyen with Clayton County police told the AJC. The student, whose name was not released because he was a juvenile, had a knife and was arrested on gambling and weapon charges, Nguyen said. The student was transported to the youth detention center, police said.
And that was just the beginning.
With officers already on campus, a food fight erupted in the cafeteria, despite officers' attempts to halt it, Nguyen said.
“A few students didn’t want to stop the food fight and wanted to continue in it," Nguyen said.
One student, 18-year-old Jefferson Rivera, allegedly began cursing at an officer, Nguyen said. Another student, Eric Fuentes, 17, allegedly jumped on the back of another officer. At that point, an officer deployed pepper foam, Nguyen said.
Both Rivera and Fuentes were arrested and charged with simple battery, obstruction, disorderly conduct and disruption of a public school, Nguyen said.
Seven other juveniles, whose names were not released, were also arrested and released to their parents, Nguyen said.
Some Clayton County officers also serve as school resource officers, meaning officers were already in the area at the time of the initial call, Nguyen said.
"The place is for education, not a food fight," he said.
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