Beating puts youth into hospital

Published 11:39 am Wednesday, March 19, 2014

A fight between two 14-year-olds during a physical education class at Sequim Middle School on June 15 put one of the youths in the hospital.

The case has been referred to the Clallam County prosecutor’s office.

Sequim Police Sgt. Dave Campbell said the incident occurred about 10 a.m. near the Sequim School District’s track & field stadium, adjacent to the middle school and high school campuses.

Lieutenant Sheri Crain called the incident a "basic schoolyard fight."

The Sequim Gazette has received information from sources that claim the fight may have been racially motivated.

Campbell said police officers have heard the same rumors.

"We do know there (were) no racial motivations from what our officers have determined," Campbell said. "It’s been an ongoing dispute (between the students), apparently."

Campbell said the youth taken to the hospital did not lose consciousness on the scene.

Friends of the victim report that the youth had both legs broken.

Campbell said end-of-the-school-year fights often go unreported and that law enforcement officers only hear about them well after the fact. He did call the severity of this particular fight "rare."

Reach Michael Dashiell at miked@sequimgazette.com.