Riot At Rite Of Passage School

San Andreas, CA– Twelve students at the Rite of Passage School in San Andreas were arrested last night in a riot that occurred in one of the dorm rooms.

The school which has a capacity to hold 100 students is located on 10400 Fricot Road and is listed as being a program for delinquent, dependent, or privately placed youth.   According to the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, units from the Sheriff’s Office, Angels Camp Police Department, CHP, Calaveras Sheriff Hostage Negotiators and Calaveras and Tuolumne County SWAT Teams responded to the incident. Units on scene gained control of the situation and detained several students.

The riot started when one student refused orders and became verbally abusive. The situation then escalated when another student joined in and the argument became a physical altercation between staff members and students. The incident took place in a dorm that houses 24 students. There were a total of 94 students on campus at the time of the riot.

Of the 12 students arrested, all were juveniles and are between the ages of 14-18 years old. The students were charged with battery, threat of injury to an officer in the performance of his/her duties, resisting arrest and rioting.

Since none of the 12 juveniles arrested are from Calaveras County, the juvenile probation department will be coordinating their incarcerations in each students home county.

Written by tina.falco@mlode.com