Sheriff BJ Barnes with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office reports that on February 6, 2008 shortly before 11:00 am, a law enforcement officer was the victim of an assault and a taser was deployed on a Northeast Guilford High School student at Northeast Guilford High School located at 6700 McLeansville Rd, McLeansville, NC.

At approximately 10:30 am, School Resource Officers were requested by teachers to investigate four suspicious subjects in the parking lot of Northeast Guilford High School.  Upon the School Resource Officer’s approach, three of the subjects were personally known to the officer to have previously been involved in criminal activity including drugs and possession of a weapon of mass destruction, i.e. sawed-off shotgun.

All subjects were taken to the School Resource Officer’s office for interviews.  During the interview, the other students were patted down for the safety of the officers with no resistance while Jonathan Richardson resisted.  A struggle ensued with Richardson and the officer and the taser was subsequently deployed on the Richardson subject.  Emergency personnel responded to the school and removed the probes from the student, as required by Guilford County Sheriff’s policy.  The student suffered no known injuries.

During the struggle, one of the School Resource Officers received an injury to the arm and is currently being treated in a medical facility in Greensboro.  The extent of injuries is not known at this time but is believed to be minor.

Jonathan Richardson of 4614 Mallard Creek Drive, Greensboro, B/M, 17 years of age, was charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of marijuana, obstruct/delay of a law enforcement officer and possession of a weapon on school property, i.e., box cutter.  Mr. Richardson is currently in the Guilford County jail under a $4,000.00 bond.

All media requests should be directed to Chief Deputy Colonel Randy Powers at (336) 641-6109.