Mercedes students assault teacher

MERCEDES — A group of five students attacked a Mercedes Discipline Alternative Education Program teacher Thursday at the beginning of the school day, officials said.

“It wound up that five boys beat him up rather badly,” Mercedes Independent School District Interim Superintendent Walter Watson said.

Watson said he could not release any names Thursday.

The teacher was taken to Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco where he received stitches for a cut over his eyebrow, Watson said. The teacher had other small cuts, scratches and bruises sustained during the attack, Watson said.

“Unfortunately it happened,” Watson said. “We wish it hadn’t, but it was handled well.”

The incident occurred between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and started as a confrontation between one student and the teacher, Watson said. Then four other boys joined in the assault, he said.

The five boys involved in the incident, who range in age from 14 to 16, were taken to the Hidalgo County Juvenile Detention Center, Watson said.

It was unknown Thursday afternoon why the confrontation began, Watson said.

“The situation was still very volatile when we arrived,” Watson said.

The teacher had been working at the Mercedes DAEP since the beginning of the school year, Watson said.

“We are very happy with the work he’s been doing,” Watson said. “He’s done a very good job.”

Watson and other district administrators were at Mercedes High School when the incident occurred, so they arrived minutes after it was reported.

The other students in the class were encouraging the five boys during the incident, Watson said. The other students were suspended from the school for three days but as of Thursday did not face any criminal charges, Watson said.

“We certainly feel bad that it did happen and are planning as we speak to work to prevent something like this from happening again or from the behavior to spill over to the other kids at the school,” Watson said.

Watson said the Mercedes DAEP principal, counselor and security staff reacted quickly to the situation.

Watson said the Mercedes Police Department also handled the situation and quickly removed the five boys from the campus.

Watson said he did not know what, if any, charges the five boys would face because police were still investigating the incident Thursday.

“They will be charged with either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the reports,” Watson said. “When we get those reports we will act accordingly.”

The boys will be at the juvenile detention center for at least 14 days and will then attend a hearing, Watson said.

The Mercedes DAEP serves two types of students, including those who are required to attend classes there because of disciplinary problems and others who choose to go to school there due to the need for a specialized schedule, Watson said.

Some students may choose to attend the school if they need to work or if they are parents, Watson said.

The five boys involved in the incident were at the school for disciplinary reasons, he said.

Students who are suspended from class for at least 40 days will be required to attend classes at the Mercedes DAEP, Watson said.

“We send them there for 40 days so they don’t lose out,” Watson said. “They won’t miss out on their education because there are teachers there and they don’t fall behind but at the same time they are receiving discipline.”

Watson said a report of the incident will be filed with the Texas Education Association, which is standard procedure for violent incidents.