VIGO COUNTY (WHI) – A local school protection officer has been stripped of his arrest powers. It comes after the Vigo County School Corporation announced earlier Wednesday that it had “left a gun unattended” at Honey Creek Middle School.
Honey Creek Junior High School
News 10 received a copy of the email sent to parents of students at Honey Creek Middle School. This is what it is about.
The school's principal, Trina McDonald, said in an email that the gun belonged to an unnamed custodial employee at the school.
The officer removed the gun from his holster to go to the bathroom.
A student later discovered the gun and reported it.
The principal said the student never handled a gun. McDonald's called the situation “concerning” and said it was dealing with it “appropriately.”
News 10 spoke to several parents about the incident.
Many of them didn't want to be on camera. But they say they were surprised by what happened.
Several parents said they had never had any problems with the school.
News 10 was able to speak with the school's track coach.
He echoed his parents' concerns.
“I'm shocked, but I also realize how difficult times we are in,” Galian Woods said.
Woods believes the situation could have been much worse.
“If it doesn't get into the hands of the people it belongs to, it's automatically going to be a horrible situation,” Woods continued.
News 10 reached out to Vigo County Sheriff John Plasse.
The officer is said to have been a school employee and had the authority to make an arrest. Plasse said his office revoked the person's special officer privileges.
The question remains whether the gun was loaded.
News 10 asked Plasse about that. He said he didn't have that information and he referred us to school officials.
School officials have not responded.
