Student, officer hurt in fights at Las Vegas’ Chaparral High

Three students were arrested after two fights at Chaparral High School around noon Thursday that injured a student and a police officer.

Two fights — each involving two male juveniles — broke out during lunch recess at the school at 3850 Annie Oakley Drive, said Lt. Darnell Couthen of the Clark County School District Police Department. The fights are under investigation but officials believe they may have been related, he said.

The injuries occurred as a police officer attempted to break up one fight and another student who was not involved intervened. The officer suffered a twisted knee and an abrasion to his chin. The student was transported to University Medical Center’s pediatric unit with a knee injury. He was later released and booked into juvenile detention, Couthen said.

Couthen said the student who joined the fray was trying to recover items — possibly a folding knife and marijuana recovered at the scene — from the student the officer was grappling with.

The student the officer initially made contact with was charged with battery on an officer and possession of the knife and the drugs. The student who joined in was charged with obstruction. A third student was charged with participating in a fight.

The other two students involved in the second fight were cited but not arrested.

“We are still investigating. We know who they are and we can follow-up,” Couthen said.

Contact Meghin Delaney at 702-383-0281 or mdelaney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @MeghinDelaney on Twitter.