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WEST VALLEY CITY — A high school student who allegedly attacked a school resource officer was arrested Thursday after the officer attempted to use a Taser on him and ended up in wrestling match.
About 10:30 a.m., a hall monitor at Granger High School, 3580 S. 3600 West, found six to seven students in the gymnasium skipping class. The students were being issued truancy notices when they became "a little belligerent" with the hall monitor, said Granite School District spokesman Ben Horsley.
The hall monitor called the school resource officer, a Granite District police officer, to assist. One student in particular, a 10th-grade student who is approximately 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, continued to cause problems.
"(The officer) approached him to calm him down," Horsley said.
Because of the district's rule that forbids students from wearing articles of clothing that could be construed as gang attire, the officer asked the teen to remove his hat. The officer ended up taking the hat off the student and then placed his hand on the student's back to direct him to the main office, Horsley said.
That's when the student apparently became very upset.
He was already belligerent, and then it was elevated, and then he started demonstrating some threatening physical motions... The student continued to assault the officer and they actually wrestled to the ground and the student was attempting to take the Taser away from the officer.
–Granite School District spokesman Ben Horsley
"At that point in time he started using profane language ... and then started demonstrating physical moves against the officer," Horsley said. "At that point, he got up in the officer's face, literally in his face, belly to belly."
The teen continued to yell vulgarities at the officer, inches away from his face.
"He was already belligerent, and then it was elevated, and then he started demonstrating some threatening physical motions," he said.
The officer, who felt threatened, took his Taser out of his holster and held it to his side. The student started walking away, but turned around without warning and came at the officer, Horsley said. The officer deployed his Taser, but it was ineffective. The student and the police officer then battled hand-to-hand.
"The student continued to assault the officer and they actually wrestled to the ground, and the student was attempting to take the Taser away from the officer," Horsley said.
After about two minutes of wrestling, the officer was able to subdue the student. He held him until West Valley police arrived as backup and placed the student in handcuffs.
After the student and officer were checked by paramedics and the boy's parents were called, Horsley said the student calmed down.
"At that point in time, the student was pretty remorseful and expressed regret to the officer directly," he said.
Horsley said the student was "experiencing some personal concerns" in addition to "feeling kind of angry" at the time he attacked the officer.
Police took the boy to juvenile detention for investigation of resisting arrest and attempting to disarm a police officer. In addition to potential criminal charges, Horsley said the teen faces "significant district administration discipline."
Horsley said the boy has had "altercations with students and teachers in the past," at another school, including at least one physical altercation.
