Discipline Disaster At Stamford Academy Leads to Three Teen Arrests

A single behavioral problem led to bedlam at on Tuesday morning, as three teens have been charged with resisting officers, carrying weapons on school grounds, and disorderly conduct.

"At 10:27 a.m. Tuesday, officers were dispatched to Stamford Academy on the report of a disorderly student," SPD's Sgt. Simon Blanc said. According to Blanc, this student was a juvenile.

"They said he had an outburst. At the beginning of class, he had asked for a notebook, and the teacher told him to see her after class. Until then, he was supposed to use a blank sheet of paper," Blanc said. "The teacher claimed that the student started yelling 'F**k this!' repeatedly in the middle of class."

SPD's official report alleges that the teacher asked the juvenile student to step into the hallway, and if he needed to speak to the school's special advocate. The teacher later stated that the studen remained silent. The teacher gave the student some time to collect himself outside of the classroom, during which time the special advocate happened upon him and coaxed him back into class.

"Things were fine for about 30 minutes, and then the student got up, left the classroom, and slammed the door behind him," Blanc said.

The teacher then told the juvenile student that she didn't feel comfortable with him in the class, according to SPD, but the student ignored her and pushed past her into the classroom.

"She asked him to leave, but he was quiet, so she allowed him to stay," Blanc said.

Eventually, the juvenile student stood up, started screaming incoherently, and then approached the teacher, shouting "Don't talk! Don't say nothing!" directly into her face. A teacher from another classroom came to assist, followed by Stamford Academy Director Clark Callahan, who tried to calm the student down, and then "asked him to leave the building," according to SPD.

"The student spit in his [Callahan's] face, and Callahan decided that the situation was getting out of hand. When he first dialed 911, the student slapped the phone out of his hand," Blanc said. After the call was finally made, the juvenile student say in the room quietly, refusing to speak to officers until they arrested him.

A knife was found on the juvenile student during his official booking.

Immediately following the juvenile student's arrest, 18-year old Joel Jackson was arrested by SPD. "One officer heard a commotion in the hallway, responded to it, and found a student struggling with another student," Blanc said. "Officers reported that several students were cursing at the academy staff. He noticed Joel Jackson yelling 'F**k you, community! F**k you!'"

SPD states that several staff members tried to calm Jackson down, but Jackson continued his tirade. Jackson is reported to have shouted "No! F**k Stamford Police! Freedom of speech!" as staff attempted to get students back into their classrooms. When a Stamford police officer told Jackson to stop or he'd be arrested, Jackson allegedly looked at the officer and yelled "Arrest me, then! You can't!" At this point, the officer attempted to arrest Jackson, who refused, so the officer grabbed Jackson's hands to restrain him.

"Jackson 'tensed up', so the officer requested additional assistance. Eventually, officers were successful in getting him out of the building," Blanc said. "Shortly thereafter, a third arresting officer was told by Callahan 'he has to go', pointing to a [juvenile] male in a purple shirt. He was flailing about, out of control."

The second arrested juvenile was arrested and searched. A three-inch blade was found on him.

Both juveniles have received a $1000 bond and will appear in court next month. Joel Jackson has received a $500 bond and will appear in court next month.