Deputies Find Handgun on Student at Diversified Minds Alternative Education Program

On February 8, 2012 at approximately 3:00 p.m. the Warren County Sheriff’s Office received information that a student may have brought a handgun to the Diversified Minds Alternative Education Program at 320 Criser Road, Front Royal, VA.   Deputies responded to the school and coordinated with school officials to conduct a search of the DMAE building.  The school was unoccupied by students due to the 1:00 p.m. early release.  A canine from the A.T.F. was utilized to assist in the search.  No weapon was located during this search. 

At approximately 7:50 a.m. on February 9th, Warren County deputies were back at the school to stand by while school officials conducted a search of approximately nine students that attended that program.   A juvenile male student refused to participate in the search by school officials. School officials asked the deputies that were on site to remove the student from the property and notify his parents. 

Prior to transporting the student a pat down was conducted by deputies and a .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun was located on the student.  The student was transported to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and charged with possession of a firearm on school property, a class 6 felony.  A detention hearing was held and the 17 year old juvenile was remanded to the Northwestern Regional Juvenile Detention Center until trial.

At this time there in so indication the juvenile had any intentions to use the firearm, however the investigation continues.  Anyone with any additional information is asked to contact Investigator Dan Simmons at the Warren County Sheriff’s Office at 635-7100 or 635-4128 or on the Warren County Sheriff’s Office website www.warrencountysheriff.org . 

Short URL: http://www.news.synavista.com/?p=18075

Posted by News Staff on Feb 9 2012. Filed under Warren County. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.