Student arrested after spraying police officers with a fire extinguisher at North Salem High School

North Salem High School experienced an hour-long lockdown on Friday following a student-on-student attack in a classroom, according to school authorities.

Subsequently, a 15-year-old boy was apprehended by the police, and he is now facing several assault charges. Additionally, he sprayed responding police officers with a fire extinguisher, as stated by Salem police spokeswoman Angela Hendrick.

At noon, a lockdown was initiated due to a student exhibiting “highly escalated behavior,” as conveyed by Principal Dustin Purnell in a message sent to North students and families.

Law enforcement was summoned to the school as a student was assaulting staff and causing damage to school property using a metal stanchion, explained Hendrick.

Following a struggle with officers, the boy was apprehended and subsequently assessed at Salem Health before being detained at the Marion County Juvenile Department.

He is charged with strangulation, three counts of assault, two counts of assaulting an officer, disorderly conduct, and criminal mischief, stated Hendrick.

Principal Purnell’s message indicated that the incident occurred during lunchtime. Some students sought refuge in their classrooms, while others who were outside relocated to the football field.

District spokesperson Aaron Harada mentioned that he currently lacks further information regarding the incident at the school or the status of the student who was assaulted.

While he believes that the student may have caused some damage to school property, specific details are not available at this time.

This lockdown took place in the initial week of the school term and coincides with teachers’ heightened focus on school safety and the need for improved resources in handling students with escalated behaviors, a prominent topic in their ongoing contract negotiations with the district.