Lakewood school officials concerned about student safety will meet with police after officers chased suspects who started a melee involving 35 people onto the grounds of a middle school this week.
A Lakewood school resource officer contacted O’Connell Middle School officials by phone when the huge fight broke out at about 3:10 p.m. on Tuesday, said Stacie Oulton, Lakewood police spokeswoman.
School officials who apparently hadn’t heard about the notice given by the resource officer had questioned why police hadn’t contacted them, she said.
A fight involving as many as 35 teenagers broke out near Wadsworth Boulevard and Mississippi Avenue after four high school students threw objects at a car in a confrontation, Oulton said. The driver of the car got out and was struck by a beer bottle, and the fight grew as gang members fought rivals, she said.
When police arrived, the teens scattered. Police chased the four who started the fight east toward O’Connell, Oulton said.
O’Connell Principal Pati Montgomery has not yet returned a phone message.
A police sergeant will speak with school officials about the incident, Oulton said.
She said five people were arrested in connection with the fight, one for possession of a handgun and four for disorderly conduct and trespassing.
“We pinned them down in backyards,” Oulton said.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
