Norman
An investigation is continuing into an incident involving racial slurs and threats made toward a female middle school student by two juvenile males near Central Middle School on Sept. 23.
A Columbus Police Department detective has been assigned to the investigation, which is ongoing, according to Lt. Skylar Berry, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
Columbus Police Chief Steve Norman, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Superintendent Chad Phillips and Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon signed a statement condemning the harassment which was posted on social media Friday.
The statement states the city “is aware of reports that a child was harassed outside of a school with racial slurs and threatening language” and goes on to say all groups “are taking this issue seriously and are conducting a full investigation.”
“In Columbus, there are values we collectively hold up as being important and worth defending,” the statement reads. “Equally, we have a shared understanding that behaviors rooted in hate, racism, or threats of violence have no place here and will not be tolerated.”
“As representatives of the City of Columbus and BCSC, we value human dignity for every member of our community, and we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that all people, especially our youth, are safe, supported, and respected,” the statement also says in part. “We are working, and pledge to continue to work, with community members and partners to address these incidents and issues when they occur, and seek solutions which provide accountability and healing.”
BCSC officials could not provide further comment citing the case being under police investigation at this time.
The investigation comes less than a month after a racial harassment incident at Edinburgh Community High School, which led to the unexpected cancellation of the school’s football game and homecoming festivities on Sept. 19.
The complaint, which was filed on Sept. 18, involves a Snapchat video of two students making a death threat using a racial slur towards a Black student. The Franklin Daily Journal confirmed one of the students in the video is an Edinburgh football player. Names of the students involved were not disclosed as they are presumed to be minors.
Edinburgh Police Chief Doyne Little said said they will forward any criminal charges to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office if a crime had been committed involving the Edinburgh incident.
James Halik, interim superintendent for Edinburgh Community School Corp. said that Edinburgh schools takes “any sort of harassment incident seriously” and thoroughly investigates them.
The district just this week announced that Edinburgh Community High School would cancel the remainder of the season, naming “low numbers of players and current injury statuses” as the reason.
