PIERCETON - A disturbance at the Pierceton Woods Academy on Wednesday required police assistance.
According to a news release Thursday from Pierceton Town Marshal Jim Bumbaugh, at 9:07 p.m. Wednesday the Pierceton Police and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s departments were dispatched to Pierceton Woods Academy regarding a disturbance with residents. Pierceton Woods staff reported they didn't have enough staff members to get the situation under control and were requesting police officers for assistance. The staff reported that a fire alarm had been pulled and that possibly several of the juveniles had left the Pierceton Woods campus.
The town of Pierceton generated a communitywide alert advising residents of a situation at Pierceton Woods Academy and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
When the first officers arrived on scene, the release states, all the juvenile residents were outside, many were physically fighting and others running around unsupervised. Through the combined efforts of several law enforcement agencies, the situation was quickly brought under control.
Medical treatment was provided for the injured, with some juveniles being transported by ground to local hospitals.
After the situation was brought under control, staff members were eventually able to notify officers that all the juvenile residents were accounted for and most of them were back in their assigned units.
According to a statement from Lasting Change, the parent organization of Pierceton Woods Academy, on behalf of PWA, “The safety of our residents, staff and community is the number one priority at Pierceton Woods Academy. In response to last night’s incident on our campus, the Pierceton Woods Academy staff called the local authorities, and we are thankful for their quick response and helpfulness in making sure the situation stayed under control.
“Three residents received care for minor injuries, and all returned to campus within three hours. The extent of the medical care provided was one staple for one cut.
“No youth attempted to leave the PWA campus during this incident and there was no threat to our community,” the statement concludes.
Pierceton Police Department was assisted by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, Warsaw Police Department, Winona Lake Police Department, North Webster Police Department, Lutheran EMS, Pierceton Fire and North Webster Fire and EMS.