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Badger Middle School student, 14, facing battery and disorderly conduct charges following incident in West Bend School District

December 6, 2023 – West Bend, Wi – West Bend Police and the West Bend School District are looking into an incident that reportedly occurred Monday afternoon, December 4, 2023, at Badger Middle School.

masks at WBSD badger

A 48second video of the incident has been circulating among parents and students.

Calls were placed Tuesday to West Bend Superintendent Jen Wimmer. A response was provided below.

Judy: Jen let me know you called and were looking for any communication regarding the incident at Badger. Below is what was sent to families. Jen has been in meetings all day and has an evening commitment, but wanted to make sure you had this information.

Families,

At the end of the school day on Monday, there was a verbal altercation involving three students that turned physical. The incident, which occurred in a third floor hallway of Badger Middle School, happened after dismissal. Yesterday and today, administrators and the West Bend Police Department School Liaison Officer were involved in responding to and investigating the incident.  

Students involved in physical altercations are given school consequences and referrals may be made to the West Bend Police Department.

Sincerely,

Patrick O’Connor

Principal

Badger Middle School

Nancy Kunkler
Communications Manager
West Bend School District
262-335-5459
Another series of calls and emails were placed to the West Bend Superintendent on Wednesday morning and as of 2:02 p.m. we are still awaiting a response. A message has also been left for principal Patrick O’Connor and his response will be posted when details become available.
West Bend Police
West Bend Police Lt. Brian McAndrews, during a one-on-one interview, ran through some of the details that occurred December 4, 2023, at 3:15 p.m. at Badger Middle School in West Bend, WI.
“The Badger police liaison officer was asked to respond to a disturbance in one of the school hallways during dismissal time. The officer determined that two 13-year-old female students were having an argument in the hallway. A 14-year-old male student inserted himself into the argument and struck one of the female students and pushed the other into a locker or a wall.
“The boy was taken into custody and referred to Washington County Juvenile Intake for charges of battery and disorderly conduct,” said McAndrews. “The term ‘battery’ is basically an assault or harming somebody and disorderly conduct relates to a related disturbance.”
Questioned whether police were familiar with the 14-year-old male student, Lt. McAndrews said police had “minimal history with the young man” and “this is the only physical incident he has been involved in 2023.”
When police were asked to clarify the district’s language on “school consequences” Lt. McAndrews said, “When law enforcement is notified of a fight, and we take a student from the school it generally results in at least a suspension or some sort of parent meeting with school officials before the student’s return to class.”
Questioned whether a nurse or medical assistance was needed, Lt. McAndrews said, “The school nurse was one of the staff members who responded to the hallway where the incident took place.”
Lt. McAndrews said, “There were no significant injuries of any type.”
Questioned whether the girl student who was struck returned to Badger school the next day, Lt. McAndrews said, “I presume so, but that would be speculation.”
This is a working story, and more information will be posted as details become available.
This incident is not to be confused with the Tuesday, December 5, 2023, police call to Badger Middle School involving a man punching a coach after an 8th grade basketball game.  Click HERE for that story.

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