An elementary student in Jackson has been suspended from school after the principal discovered he had a knife.
When police came to McCulloch Elementary Wednesday afternoon, officers realized it wasn't the first time they'd run into that same student.
"He had been reported as a runaway. And we located him, earlier in the day, around 9 o'clock in the morning, somewhere abouts in there, with some other kids, and had taken them back to their parents. And I believe in this case, the parent took him back to school," said Dep. Chief John Holda with Jackson Police.
The 11-year-old had been missing the night before, then didn't make it to class once he did get back to school.
"The principal suspected that he had been smoking, smelled smoke on his clothing, and then just asked the kid to empty out his pockets. And when he did, noticed that there was a knife in the pockets, so immediately called us," said Holda.
It's situations like this that are the toughest part of the job says Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Dan Evans.@
"Very challenging, especially since he's that young. Just because of the services they need. They're just so overwhelming, to think, how are we going to get him through to graduation?" said Evans. "It's a sad situation for the family, for the young person, for everyone involved. I'm just glad this time to bring this situation under control, and hopefully the young person will get all the help they need."
The student did go to juvenile court and is charged with having a dangerous weapon on school grounds. Sometime in the next 10 days, the district will hold an expulsion hearing.
In the meantime, the student is back with his parents.
