Food fight investigation may yield additional arrests

Monroe-"The students decided to have a food fight," according to Police Chief Robert Kwiatkowski. The incident occurred at Monroe-Woodbury High School on Thursday, June 10, during the 10:30 lunch period. The school resource officer, a member of the Woodbury Police Department, had to request immediate back-up. "There were 20 to 30 officers involved," Chief Kwiatkowski said. They were called in from the Woodbury Police Department, New York State Police, Village of Harriman, Monroe Police and the Town of Blooming Grove to handle between 300 and 400 students participating in the food fight. Three students, ages 15 and 16, were arrested based on observations by police officers on hand. One of them was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, another with obstructing governmental administration and assaulting a police officer, and the last with disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana. They were charged and released to their parents. The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests may be made pending the review of video tapes made by school cameras and some provided by individuals. A meeting involving the police, the district attorney and school representatives could be held as early as next week to determine if further actions may be taken. According to Chief Kwiatkowski, there were one or two minor injuries treated by the school nurse. "No one had to go to the hospital," he said. "The reasons given (for the food fight) vary, but I think it was a lot of end of school high jinx," Chief Kwiatkowski alleged.