After Richwoods HS graduation, fight at Peoria Civic Center leads to 7 arrests
(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
Peoria police officers and other security officials had to break up an altercation Saturday following the Richwoods High School graduation at the Peoria Civic Center that led to the arrests of seven juveniles.
According to the Peoria Police Department, officers patrolling the Civic Center at 5:15 p.m. noticed a fight between several juveniles break out at the concession stands. Quick intervention by the officers, Civic Center security guards and Peoria Public Schools resource officers broke up the altercation.
A 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy were each charged with aggravated battery and mob action, with both being held at the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center. Two other 16-year-old boys, another 15-year-old boy, a 13-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl were also charged with aggravated battery and mob action, but all were released to the custody of their parent or guardian.
PPS said Monday the situation was "swiftly resolved" and did not disrupt the graduation ceremony for Richwoods graduates. The students involved in the fight were not among those graduating Saturday, district spokesperson Marjorie Kauth said.
She said the district was satisfied with the swift response by police and security officials to put the altercation to rest. She also said the district was prepared for any such incident, with 20 Peoria police officers, 16 school resource officers and 14 Civic Center security officers on site.
'We're incredibly thankful for the professionalism of the various security teams,' Peoria Public Schools Superintendent Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat said in a statement. 'I am thankful to everyone who made this day special. The positive feedback from families about our new venue, especially the jumbotron view, unlimited seating, and easy parking, confirms it was a joyful and memorable experience.'
A video of the altercation posted to Facebook shows Peoria police officers and other security personnel restraining multiple students involved in the fight. One officer can be seen taking a male to the ground, while others restrained another student.
Kauth said there will be disciplinary action taken against the students involved in the fight because it occurred at a district-sanctioned event.
PPD said anyone with further information on the fight is asked to contact them at (309) 673-4521 or provide an anonymous tip through their Tip411 service. They can also contact Crime Stoppers at (309) 673-9000.
More than 900 students from Peoria High School, Manual High School and Richwoods High School celebrated their graduations at the Peoria Civic Center on Saturday.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria police make arrests after graduations at Peoria Civic Center
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