Fights At Urbana High School Result In 8 Arrests

Fights involving students at Urbana High School led to several arrests and the early dismissal of class Monday. A teacher was injured in the incident, and class is to resume Tuesday with a police presence at the school.

A fight occurred shortly before noon in the high school’s main hallway near the cafeteria, according to a news release from the Urbana school district and Urbana Police Department.  A teacher who tried to intervene was knocked unconscious, apparently after being battered.

The News-Gazette reports that after police arrived to break up the fight, other fights broke out in other parts of the high school.

Police arrested seven students, and the parent of one of them, 35-year-old Adrian C. Pettis. She is charged with resisting or obstructing a peace officer.  Charges against the students were not released, due to requirements of the Illinois Juvenile Court Act.

Urbana school officials made the decision to dismiss classes at the high school early on Monday. Dismissal occurred under police supervision. Classes are to resume on the regular schedule on Tuesday. But Urbana police officers will join the school resource officer in patrolling the high school for “the immediate future”, according to the police-school news release.

Urbana Police were joined by University of Illinois Police and Champaign County sheriff’s deputies in answering the initial call for aid at the high school. An investigation into Monday’s fights continues, and police say more arrests are possible.

Urbana Police are asking anyone with information, photographs or video recordings to contact Urbana Police at 217-384-2320, or contact Champaign County Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-373-TIPS or online at champaigncountycrimestoppers.com.