North County Student Charged in School Fight

Editor's note: This article was updated at 4:40 p.m.

According to a letter sent out by  Principal William Heiser, a student who used a retractable baton in a fight Monday morning was arrested and charged.

The fight, which happened in about 9:20 a.m., occurred between Carlton Jones, 17, and another 17-year-old male student in a first floor hallway, police said. During the fight Jones hit the other student with the baton, sending him to the hospital to be treated for his injuries.

"The [school resource officer's] investigation revealed that Jones was in possession of an expandable metal baton. The expandable baton is similar to those carried by law enforcement personnel," said police spokesman Justin Mulcahy. "As a result of the investigation, Jones was arrested for the weapons offense and charges arising from the fight."

In the letter, Heiser assured parents that he would act "swiftly and aggressively" in dealing with the incident.

"I want to also applaud the students who were nearby at the time of the fight for quickly alerting teachers and administrators and refraining from becoming involved," Heiser said in the letter that was posted to the school's Web site.

Heiser urged parents to use the incident as an opportunity to "reinforce appropriate behaviors in school and other settings."

Jones, a Glen Burnie resident, was charged as an adult with first- and second- degree assault, reckless endangerment and possession of a deadly weapon, Mulcahy said.