UPDATE: student trespasser arrested in parking lot

A former Blair student was caught trespassing in the student parking lot at around 2:15 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, according to Blair administrators and police.

Officer Ralph Penn was told by Blair security that a disruptive juvenile was on school grounds and confronted the male about the situation. "He had been drinking. I could smell alcohol," said Penn. Penn stated that the former student began "swinging at me," calling the officer names and resisting arrest.

He stated that no gun was used in the incident but that he had taken the gun out of his holster to get it out of the student's reach. "When I was fighting with him, I took [the gun] out and put it somewhere else," Penn stated. Shortly after, he called for backup on the radio.

Several police cars arrived on the scene, and Penn explained that the general public might have thought there were too many officers involved. "If a police officer is in trouble, police come from all over," said Penn. "It's better to have too much than not enough."

Two to three policemen secured the student trespasser, placed ankle cuffs on the male and took him into custody. This was not the first time Penn had trouble with the student. "I had a run in with him before," said Penn.

The student was charged with second-degree assault, trespassing and resisting arrest.