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Weapons violations are taken seriously at Warsaw Community High School, regardless of the reason inappropriate items are brought to school.
On Wednesday - the first day of school - a student was suspended pending expulsion after a switchblade knife was allegedly found in his school bag.
Charges are pending against Anthony Brandon Johnson, 14, of 911 Shady Lane, Warsaw. After paperwork on the matter was completed by Warsaw police, Johnson was released to his mother's custody and is under house arrest until contacted by juvenile authorities. He will be charged with possession of a switchblade knife.
According to a Warsaw police report, WCHS principal Paul Crousore found an apparently abandoned book bag in the school and, upon opening it to check for identification, found the knife with a 4-inch blade.
After determining that the bag belonged to Johnson, he was questioned and told officials that he had placed the knife in his bag to hide it and forgot it was there when he got to school. He also reportedly said that he found the knife in the attic of his home and took it to school to show some classmates. He said he didn't have any intent to threaten anyone or to use the knife in any way.
However, Warsaw Community Schools enacted a weapons violation policy as required by federal law aboout two years ago, and has strictly enforced it since that time. Last year a handful students in Warsaw schools faced suspension and/or expulsion as a result of bringing weapons onto school property.
"If there's one (student with a weapon), it's a problem," Crousore said. "We will continue to be very concerned about the safety of our students and have the staff monitor situations to reassure parents and students." He added that the corporation will enlist help from parents and the community to educate youngsters on the dangers of weapons.
Johnson is suspended from school and banned from school grounds for 10 days and will likely be expelled for 365 days. The knife was confiscated by police.
