Posted on 12/01/2004 1:30:31 PM PST by freebilly
SANTA CRUZ — Two teen girls arrested for stabbing a 13-year-old girl outside Santa Cruz High School had participated earlier in the day in a conflict-resolution process at the alternative school they attend.
Detectives believe the Monday afternoon stabbing, which did not involve Santa Cruz High students, was sparked by the suspected stabber’s belief that the victim had spread a rumor about her to a boy, Sgt. Brad Goodwin said.
The alleged attackers, ages 13 and 14 and whose names are not being released because they’re juveniles, were arrested at one of the girl’s homes in Santa Cruz about 7 p.m. Monday and taken to Juvenile Hall in Felton, police said.
The pair faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon.
The teens attend Star Community School on Frederick Street, and educators there said the victim was expected to be released from Stanford Medical Center sometime today. They said the victim, a Soquel resident, and one of the suspects had argued days earlier outside the small, 50-student school, and that a teacher conducted a conflict resolution with all three of them Monday.
But detectives say the victim and a friend had come to the high school to meet friends and that the two suspects went there to confront her. About 3:15 p.m., she was stabbed three times in the lower back.
One of the girls stabbed the victim with a knife, Goodwin said; he added that the second suspect contributed to the assault and was arrested for the same charge.
Advertisement Zip Realty
Prosecutor Ariadne Symons said she anticipated charges would be filed today. The teens will be arraigned Thursday in juvenile court, she said.
Johnny Rice, a teacher at Star, said the girls had argued outside school on Nov. 19. There were no threats made, he said, but as a precaution they were asked to remain out of school for the three days before Thanksgiving and to return only if willing to resolve the problem.
In the meantime, he spoke to their parents and other school officials. Rice said the girls by Monday appeared willing to move on.
"They each owned to their part and agreed to put the incident behind them," he said. "Everything seemed fine. We’ve done similar processes many, many times with kids, and this is the only time it has netted a negative outcome. I don’t think the incident could have been foreseen."
The school incorporates counseling and teaches conflict resolution, non-violent communication and other life skills to at-risk kids, he said.
"But building character is a process, and there are no magic buttons," he said. "Kids can be impulsive and make mistakes, and unfortunately for all those involved, this was a particularly large mistake."
Star is run by the county Office of Education. The office’s director, Michael Watkins, said the girls arrested won’t be allowed back in school "if and when they are released." He called the attack an isolated incident and said he does not anticipate any retaliation.
"We’ll pick up the pieces and go on," he said.
Santa Cruz High School lost its school resource officer to budget cuts this year, but a district assistant superintendent said he did not believe that had any bearing on the stabbing.
Ralph Porras said the school is "very safe" and has two full-time campus supervisors who are quick to question visitors who don’t check in at the school office and display a required visitor’s badge.
"It appears it happened very fast," he said. "The supervisors would have asked them to leave if they had been hanging out."
Santa Cruz police Lt. Rick Martinez said there have not been any significant problems at the high school this year, but that it would help to have an officer on site.
It's obvious what went wrong. They forgot the anger management and self esteem classes.
Measurements: 73FF-32-36
There's a connection here about conflict resolution, too, but I just can't think of it offhand....
We now know that the term "alternative school" means "screw up again and you going to jail, biatch...."
"Violence never solves anything-- unless you're a Republican then I am free to assault you...."
We wonder, did the stabbed girl have to pick up any pieces, too....
Nice church up in Aptos, too-- Twin Lakes-- next to Cabrillo.
Santa Cruz was an old stomping ground of mine in my youth. Some of those surfer dudes could be pretty religious--that is when they weren't drunk or stoned!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.