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Student allegedly pulls alarm, hits officer
Cedar Grove police charged a Washington Academy student with intentionally pulling a school fire alarm and striking a officer during the ensuing investigation.
Sgt. Frank Pumphrey sustained mouth and jaw injuries and was released from Mountainside Hospital after examination, Cedar Grove Capt. Richard Vanderstreet said.
Police responded to the Pompton Avenue special needs school at 10:08 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, after being contacted by the school’s alarm company.
School administrators told police a 16-year-old student had triggered the alarm.
“We’re talking about special needs students – each has their own individual problems,” Vanderstreet said. “This girl was upset and agitated, which is why she pulled the alarm, and she continued to be upset and agitated upon our arrival.
“When our officers interviewed her, she wanted to leave the vicinity. The officers said she needed to stay where she was.
“She attempted to leave, we got involved and she took exception to that,” he added. “Then she swung and punched the officer.”
The suspect was processed and taken to the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center pending court proceedings, according to police.
The juvenile court system considers all crimes juvenile delinquency and scales them by severity, Vanderstreet said. He added that triggering a false alarm and assaulting an officer are both indictable offenses for adults.
Officers Daniel Boutmy and Kristian Schneider assisted in the investigation.
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