Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for September 15, 2007 SCHOOL VIOLENCE

West Frankfort student arrested for classroom violence

By Tara Fasol, the southern

WEST FRANKFORT - A Frankfort Community High School faculty member was air lifted to a St. Louis hospital Friday afternoon after falling backwards over a desk during class hours.

West Frankfort Fire Department Lt. Craig Lemmon said teacher Dan Miner received serious head trauma. Miner is a behavioral disorders teacher at the high school.

Student Khristipher E. Cook, 18, was being held in connection with the incident, county jail officials said.

Emergency officials received a call to the high school at 12:55 p.m. and took Miner to Herrin Hospital. Lemmon said Miner was "knocked out" after hitting his head from the fall but was conscious during transport from the high school to the hospital.

Chief of Police Mike Dinn said Miner was flown from Herrin to a St. Louis Hospital because of the extent of his injuries.

"Thank God we have a school resource officer who is there to handle things like this and get there quickly," Dinn said. "We will not tolerate this. We are going to prosecute this to the fullest extent."

Dinn said the student resource officer program places a police officer in the high school to help with violence and student control. He commended school officials for their quick action in resolving Friday afternoon's incident.

Dinn said he would not release the details of how Miner became injured until Franklin County State's Attorney Tom Dinn had reviewed the case.

Mike Dinn said Cook will be "at least charged with aggravated assault" and noted that depending on how the teacher's condition improved or worsened, Cook could also face increased charges such as heinous battery.

"At the least we will have an aggravated battery charge but it really depends on how this turns out with the damage," Mike Dinn explained. "With heinous battery, it could hold a sentence of 10 to 30 years in prison."

Tom Dinn said he learned of the incident Friday evening and had not yet reviewed information to determine the full extent of prosecution.

"Hopefully, they (law enforcement) will have the report and I will get to see it over the weekend. We will set bond over the weekend and file the case early Monday or Tuesday," Tom Dinn said.

Student Faces Assault Charge After Teacher Hit in Head

By: Arnold Wyrick

WEST FRANKFORT, Ill. - A West Frankfort Community High School student got very upset Friday afternoon, over something going on in his classroom. Police say 18-year-old Khristipher Cook picked up a desk and threw it at his teacher.

Teacher Dan Miner received head injuries in the attack and had to be taken to Herrin Hospital and later flown to Saint Louis University for further treatment.

Cook is one of Miner's behavioral disorder students.

Principal John Hixson wouldn't say exactly what prompted Cook's violent outburst.

"They may get upset that they're not learning it as quick as they should or something along those lines. However it's not normal to assault a teacher," Principal Hixson said.

Police caught up with Cook a short time later walking along a street behind the high school.

His fellow classmates had their opinions about the incident.

"I think it was handled okay. I mean it's really sad to hear what happened to the teacher, Mr. Miner. I don't think it should have happened," said Rachael Poole.

"I thought it was kind of stupid. I understand you know the kid didn't like the coach and everything. But, he still shouldn't have done that," said Amanda Barney.

"Him being 18 he should know better than to do something like that. But, he went and did it anyway. And I told him just let it alone, ignore it. I know how badly the teacher gets on his nerves," said Kristina Williams.

West Frankfort police felt the same way and arrested Cook, charging him with aggravated assault and criminal damage to government supported property. Cook's bond is set at $50,000. He was still behind bars in the Franklin County jail Monday.