By Pat Culverhouse
A hefty bond has been set for the 17-year-old Minden High School student charged with splashing urine in the face of a female inside a classroom shortly after classes began Tuesday.
Chief of Police Jared McIver said LaMario Elkins Jr. is being held on a $301,000 bond on charges of terrorizing, aggravated battery and resisting an officer.
Elkins reportedly was booked into Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center and will be transferred to the Jackson Parish juvenile facility.
McIver said Elkins entered the school around 8:17 a.m. then went to a restroom where he changed into all-black clothing and donned a black ski mask.
He then allegedly entered the classroom where he splashed the student with urine which he was carrying in a water bottle. McIver said the liquid
also splattered onto the clothing of nearby students.
“He told us that he did this because the female student had disrespected him,” the Chief said.
Elkins reportedly fled the classroom after the incident and left the school heading toward West Union St. with Minden Police Department school resource officers Marlin Choyce and LaDarius Joseph in pursuit. MPD Officer Branthony Brown, who was on traffic duty in the school zone, joined the foot chase.
McIver said Elkins attempted to fight with officers after he was apprehended but he was successfully restrained. No officers suffered injuries during the struggle, and reportedly found no other weapons in his possession during the arrest.
“Thank God there were no other weapons involved,” the Chief said.
McIver said officers reviewed security camera footage which showed the incident, and showed Elkins leaving the building.
In a statement issued Tuesday by Superintendent of Schools Johnny Rowland, no students reportedly were injured.
“Student safety is of paramount importance, and we are appreciative of the quick reaction of the administration and staff, as well as the presence of our school resource officer on campus who immediately intervened.”
In his statement, Rowland said additional information could not be released, but “…we wanted to make our parents aware of the situation and that it has been addressed.”
Rowland said the incident did not result in a lockdown at Minden High.
“This unfortunate incident occurred as classes were beginning as usual and classes are continuing today as usual,” he said. “Again, we want to thank Chief McIver and the SROs for way they handled this so quickly to ensure the safety of our students.”
State law now allows 17-year-olds to be treated as adults in the criminal justice system. Under state law, persons convicted of terrorizing shall be fined not more than $15,000 or imprisoned (with or without hard labor) for not more than fifteen years, or both.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.