School addresses safety concerns following stun gun, knife incident.

School addresses safety concerns following stun gun, knife incident.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

PENTWATER – Pentwater Public School Superintendent Scott Karaptian called a meeting Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 18, addressing Monday’s incident which involved a student carrying a stun gun and knife at the high school.

A 17-year-old male student was arrested by the Pentwater Police Department Wednesday, Sept. 18. He was also suspended from school, according to PPD.

The suspect was lodged in the Oceana County Jail after a warrant was issued charging him with carrying a stun gun and a knife with a 4-inch blade on school property, according to a post on PPD’s Facebook page.

“It was a series of unfortunate events that no school wants to go through,” said Karaptian. “Protocol was followed swiftly by school staff and law enforcement, and no one was in any danger. The items were never brandished, and no one was threatened.”

The purpose of the meeting, which involves local law enforcement and parents, is to “hopefully put people at ease,” he said. It’s an opportunity for law enforcement to answer questions from parents about how the situation was handled. Karaptian said officials from Pentwater Police Department, the Michigan State Police and Oceana County Sheriff’s Office were slated to attend. School board members and staff were also slated to be in attendance.

“The name of the suspect is being withheld pending arraignment,” the PPD post states.

“The incident was reported by school officials after the suspect was found in possession of the items on school property.” PPD continued its investigation Tuesday and got a warrant issued early Wednesday morning.

“The investigation did not uncover any evidence that there was a threat to Pentwater students or staff by the suspect,” states the PPD post. “The suspect was immediately suspended pending further action by school officials.”

The meeting was scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. in the board room.

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