Four students arrested for possessing gun at school

SPIRIT LAKE - Four Timberlake High School freshmen were arrested on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in possessing a handgun at the school.

The students, three boys and a girl, each face charges for possession of a weapon by a minor and possession of a weapon on school property, both misdemeanors.

"No threats were made that we are aware of," Spirit Lake Police Chief Patrick Lawless said. "We don't believe there was any malicious intent. It sounds like they were more or less showing it off to friends."

Two of the boys remain in custody at the Juvenile Detention Center. Another boy and the girl have been released to their parents.

None of the four have returned to school because they also face disciplinary action from the school district, Lawless said.

The gun was not found, but all four confessed to possessing it.

Lawless said the .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol was loaded when it was brought inside the school on Tuesday morning. The boy then unloaded it when he passed it on to the girl, who in turn gave it to two boys. Lawless said the three of them allegedly took the gun outside the school and it was hidden under bushes, but the boy who placed it there told police he couldn't find it later Tuesday when he looked for it.

Lawless said he doesn't believe anyone else handled the gun after it was hidden and that all those involved were arrested.

"One of the students who was arrested may have some knowledge, but we don't have proof," he said.

Lakeland Assistant Superintendent Brad Murray said the students could be expelled for up to a calendar year. The school board will decide the disciplinary action. The board's next scheduled meeting is June 14.

"Those kids deserve the right to be heard in front of the school board," Murray said. "But there's a lesson here for many. You need to think things through all the way before you bring something on campus that isn't allowed. It was a terrible mistake and, when you bring a weapon on campus, we have to react strongly and quickly."

The boy who allegedly took the gun from his father's safe told police he forgot he had it in his pocket Tuesday morning after he had been shooting birds. School administrators heard a report of a gun being at school from a student on Tuesday, then investigated the allegation, Lawless said. Police were contacted on Wednesday as soon as administrators realized the rumors may be true, he said.

"I would have preferred that they call us on Tuesday, but I understand that they did what they could do with the information they had," Lawless said. "They were trying to get the story straight before contacting police. They couldn't prove that it had happened until Wednesday and they called us as soon as they knew."

Murray said the district isn't second-guessing the delay, but communication will be discussed during a debriefing about the incident.

"I believe they did what they needed to do and they certainly wanted to provide the right information to police," Murray said. "But we need to look at the situation to see if there's anything we can improve."

Timberlake Principal Kurt Hoffman directed questions to Murray.

Lawless said two students were released based on their histories with police and how they cooperated with officers during the investigation.

Murray praised the students who notified school administrators about the gun.

District officials said they can't remember a weapon ever being brought to a school in the district.

"The closest thing was a paintball gun in one or two of the schools," Murray said.

Those with information about the missing gun should call Spirit Lake Police at 623-2701.