Lakewood police responding to a melee Tuesday involving as many as 35 teens did take precautions to protect students at O’Connell Middle School while a search for suspects was underway, authorities reviewing the incident have discovered.
Although an officer drove onto grass near the school during a chase, he was going less than 10 mph and no middle school students were on the grass at the time, said Stacie Oulton, Lakewood police spokeswoman.
Furthermore, two officers were posted west of the school to push four fleeing suspects who initiated the huge brawl away from the school, Oulton said. A resource officer also notified school officials by radio about the fight so precautions could be taken, she said.
School officials had said they wished to speak with police about safety concerns regarding the chase.
A fight involving as many as 35 teenagers broke out near Wadsworth Boulevard and Mississippi Avenue about 3:10 p.m. Tuesday after four high school students threw objects at a car, 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
