Student charged for bringing tool into high school

THL · 01-16-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Christopher Berger takes pride in his record at Grayslake Central High School as an honors student, choir singer and former football player who spends half the day training to be a firefighter.

But now the 18-year-old senior's record includes something new: A police ticket for reckless conduct that stems from an incident Thursday, when school officials discovered a Totes outdoor multi-tool flashlight in a jacket he left in the cafeteria.

The tools include a 2-inch blade, screwdriver, pliers and other gadgets that Berger agrees are clearly prohibited under school policy.

But he was so shaken by the police ticket and its wording that he has taken his case to the street, knocking on doors and telling his story with an earnest indignation that led more than a dozen neighbors to sign a petition to present to a judge next month in hopes that it will help persuade him to dismiss the ticket.

"What I really want to stress is, I agree with the school's punishment," said Berger, who returned to school Monday after being suspended Thursday and Friday. "What I have a problem with is how this ticket is being enforced."

The ticket for violating a Grayslake ordinance states that "[the] defendant endangered the bodily safety of other students by leaving a knife unsupervised in the cafeteria."

"I've never even gotten a detention before," said Berger, who researched the state and local definitions of "reckless conduct" and showed copies to neighbors.

"This is something I forgot in my coat. It's not illegal."

Berger, whose father gave the flashlight to him as a Christmas gift, said he is afraid the ticket will reflect badly on him when applying for college or jobs as a firefighter. After examining the laws defining reckless conduct, he doesn't think his violation fits the description.

Yet, "Most kids know they can't have this kind of stuff in school," said Grayslake Police Chief Larry Herzog, who described the ticket as falling short of a misdemeanor.

"It is a small weapon. It was in the school. It's something you couldn't bring on an airplane."

Whether the ticket could harm him later "depends on where he wants to be a firefighter," said Brian Brauer, assistant director of the Illinois Fire Service Institute.

While each of Illinois' 1,267 fire departments may set their own standards, most fire officials would likely overlook a one-time incident if accompanied with a reasonable explanation, Brauer said.

The flap began when Berger was waiting for a bus to take him to a firefighting class Thursday morning. He draped his jean jacket over a chair and forgot about it. He said he changed jackets at home that morning because of warmer weather, and forgot about the tool in his pocket.

When he returned to Grayslake Central for regular classes that day, he was ushered into the office and greeted by three school officials and police officer Ken Arnold. They found the tool while trying to identify the jacket's owner, and warned him he could be expelled, Berger said.

School officials did not return calls Tuesday.

After Berger was sent home, he started researching the definition of "reckless conduct," which under Grayslake ordinance carries a fine of up to $500 if he is found guilty.

He then wrote a petition that states, in part:

"I as a citizen of Grayslake and taxpayer of Grayslake Central believe that the Multi-Tool Torch is not a weapon because it was less than 3" long, and the defendant is not guilty of reckless conduct because it did not endanger the bodily safety of students."

As of Tuesday morning, Berger had collected 16 signatures from the neighborhood and nearly 50 from school, four from teachers.

"I know Chris. There was no intent involved," said his neighbor, Ena Potter, who signed the petition. "That thing is not a weapon; it's a gadget."

Berger's father, Charles, said he thought the ticket was "pretty harsh." He said the petition was his son's idea.

"He's trying to take a bad experience and vindicate himself."

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dave lukins · 01-16-2008, 11:21 AM

Ok they found a tool in his jacket, why did they open it up to reveal the blade? did they expect to find his name on it, as that was the original intention of the search in the first place. This seems a petty "offence" to involve the Police, who I notice, have a backlog of some 1500 complaints against them. I'd make this 15001 for wasting public funds.

glyn · 01-16-2008, 12:08 PM

Are there no knives in the cafeteria, or are diners limited to spoons alone?

After all, forks are designed for penetrating so obviously they wouldn't be available, would they?

Would the cafeteria staff have access to knives? Dangerous things if you ask me. Has the world gone mad with all this political correctness? I am disgusted with the school and the police force. Belay that - police FARCE.

omon · 01-16-2008, 13:36 PM

some one found this in his jacket??? looks like illegal search to me.
they took his property without his permission, whatever they found there, thay had no right to search it in a first place.
i,d sue the school. and deny ownership of the tool.

Mobbme · 01-16-2008, 13:47 PM

From reading this, he seems like a good boy. Thats no way to treat a good boy. They should throw out the ticket he received and get a formal apology from the principal. Overreaction.

If this was a bad boy, with previous run ins and suspensions, then it would be the normal punishment.

Feanor · 01-16-2008, 21:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobbme

From reading this, he seems like a good boy. Thats no way to treat a good boy. They should throw out the ticket he received and get a formal apology from the principal. Overreaction.

If this was a bad boy, with previous run ins and suspensions, then it would be the normal punishment.

Equality before the law, don't forget.

Gun Grape · 01-16-2008, 22:46 PM

Quote:

he tools include a 2-inch blade, screwdriver, pliers and other gadgets that Berger agrees are clearly prohibited under school policy.

Quote:

"This is something I forgot in my coat. It's not illegal."

Oh, but you cannot have it both ways. If it is against school policies, and you admit that, then it is illegal to have in school.

Quote:

What I really want to stress is, I agree with the school's punishment," said Berger, who returned to school Monday after being suspended Thursday and Friday. "What I have a problem with is how this ticket is being enforced."

Well here let me call the Waaaaaaabulance.

Suck it up, grow up and move on.

jame$thegreat · 01-16-2008, 23:00 PM

He clearly broke the law and deserves the punishment that he recieved. It makes no difference whether he likes the punishment, whether it was found in his coat or whether it was under 4" because it is, in fact, a weapon and does not belong on a school campus.

I would think it a pretty hard argument to make that a 3" blade could not be harmful to fellow students.

It is common knowledge that this is against school policy and the student even acknowledges that it was, this should be case closed.

Additionally, he deserves no special treatment because of his flawless record on paper because that doesn't tell you a damn thing about what kind of person he is or what kind of intent he may or may not have with such a weapon.

dalem · 01-16-2008, 23:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gun Grape

Oh, but you cannot have it both ways. If it is against school policies, and you admit that, then it is illegal to have in school.

Well here let me call the Waaaaaaabulance.

Suck it up, grow up and move on.

Yeah. The kid can write a great essay about it on his college apps and be head and shoulders above the rest already.
It'll help his chances, not hurt them, if he's that worried.

-dale

Expat Canuck · 01-17-2008, 00:10 AM

Oh well bad luck, I forgot that I can't answer my phone in a car here in Australia when my sister called me that I've not seen in five years. Does not mean I'll get out of the $150 fine I got when the cops nicked me.

Bloody hell, I don't need this fine and my girlfriend is going to hit the roof when she finds out. I just have to check the mail a lot and pay it..... I feel like I'm 15 again and skipped school......

01-16-2008, 12:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
glyn *Military Professional* Join Date: 09-15-06 Location: Penzance, Cornwall UK Posts: 6,544	Are there no knives in the cafeteria, or are diners limited to spoons alone? After all, forks are designed for penetrating so obviously they wouldn't be available, would they? Would the cafeteria staff have access to knives? Dangerous things if you ask me. Has the world gone mad with all this political correctness? I am disgusted with the school and the police force. Belay that - police FARCE. __________________ Semper in excretum. Solum profunda variat.

01-16-2008, 13:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
omon Field mechanik *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 11-01-06 Location: bk Posts: 1,925 Country:	some one found this in his jacket??? looks like illegal search to me. they took his property without his permission, whatever they found there, thay had no right to search it in a first place. i,d sue the school. and deny ownership of the tool. __________________ "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!" B. Franklin

01-16-2008, 23:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
jame$thegreat *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 11-24-04 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 1,046 Country:	He clearly broke the law and deserves the punishment that he recieved. It makes no difference whether he likes the punishment, whether it was found in his coat or whether it was under 4" because it is, in fact, a weapon and does not belong on a school campus. I would think it a pretty hard argument to make that a 3" blade could not be harmful to fellow students. It is common knowledge that this is against school policy and the student even acknowledges that it was, this should be case closed. Additionally, he deserves no special treatment because of his flawless record on paper because that doesn't tell you a damn thing about what kind of person he is or what kind of intent he may or may not have with such a weapon. __________________ Sometimes things dont end up how they should, a son, a brother, a mentor, a teacher, a cousin, a nephew, a grandson and a god in my eyes. Who knows what he more could have been... Christopher Muzykant April 9, 1976-November 4,2005 My Brother, Always and forever

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01-16-2008, 11:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
dave lukins *Military Professional* Join Date: 01-04-07 Location: cheshire uk Posts: 4,755 Country:	Ok they found a tool in his jacket, why did they open it up to reveal the blade? did they expect to find his name on it, as that was the original intention of the search in the first place. This seems a petty "offence" to involve the Police, who I notice, have a backlog of some 1500 complaints against them. I'd make this 15001 for wasting public funds.

01-16-2008, 13:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mobbme The Cool Guy *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 10-10-07 Location: Ontario Posts: 1,230 Country:	From reading this, he seems like a good boy. Thats no way to treat a good boy. They should throw out the ticket he received and get a formal apology from the principal. Overreaction. If this was a bad boy, with previous run ins and suspensions, then it would be the normal punishment.

01-17-2008, 00:10 AM	#10 (permalink)
Expat Canuck Homesick Fool *Military Professional* Join Date: 05-17-05 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,014 Country:	Oh well bad luck, I forgot that I can't answer my phone in a car here in Australia when my sister called me that I've not seen in five years. Does not mean I'll get out of the $150 fine I got when the cops nicked me. Bloody hell, I don't need this fine and my girlfriend is going to hit the roof when she finds out. I just have to check the mail a lot and pay it..... I feel like I'm 15 again and skipped school......

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