A resource officer trying to break up a Friday fight between two female high school students accidentally fired a Taser at a third student who was trying to help, an East Ridge public safety official said.
East Ridge officers responded to East Ridge High School at 4340 Bennett Road after the SRO requested help, spokesman Erik Hopkins said. He said the resource officer had been called to the gymnasium area on a report of a fight between two female students. When the SRO arrived a teacher was trying to break up the fight and was being assaulted by one of the students involved, Mr. Hopkins said.
He said that, in an attempt to protect the teacher, the resource officer deployed a Taser stun gun. A third female student, who was not involved in the fight and was trying to help the teacher, stepped between the teacher and the resource officer and inadvertently was shot with the Taser, Mr. Hopkins said.
The 17-year-old student who was shot with the stun gun was treated at the school by fire and rescue first responders and taken to Parkridge Hospital by LifeGuard EMS for evaluation. She was identified by both the resource officer and school officials as a good student who was not part of the fight but only was trying to assist, Mr. Hopkins said.
No other injuries were reported, he said.
Mr. Hopkins said the two students involved in the fight were taken into custody and each charged with assault and disorderly conduct.
One student, a 17-year-old, was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center. An 18-year-old student identified as Dearia M. Higgins was taken to the Hamilton County Jail, according to Mr. Hopkins.
He said Ms. Higgins is due to appear in East Ridge Municipal Court on March 30.