Victor Valley High School brawl sends girl to hospital, boy arrested
Deputies arrested a teen boy during a Friday night fight at the Victor Valley High School football game in which law enforcement used Pepper Balls to calm the unruly crowd.
A deputy was punched trying to break up the brawl, and a teen girl was injured in the incident and was transported to a hospital, sheriff's officials said.
An online video shows the girl being forcefully slammed to the ground by what appeared to be a uniformed deputy.
Priscilla Jeffers reported that her daughter, Faith, suffered traumatic injuries to her head and spine and was hospitalized during the encounter with a deputy.
Jeffers told the Daily Press on Saturday that her daughter has a long recovery ahead of her.
Faith’s mother told KTLA she plans to take legal action against the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff’s department, however, claims the deputy was the victim during the melee.
The incident
Sheriff’s officials said the chaotic incident occurred at 6:28 p.m. at the school on 16500 Mojave Drive in Victorville.
A deputy responded to the scene, where they found several people fighting, according to deputies.
Photos and an online video show the fight in the parking lot.
The deputy deployed Pepper Balls toward the ground to disperse the crowd. However, the effort was ineffective, and the group began moving toward the deputy, sheriff’s officials said.
As additional deputies arrived, they fired another pepper ball round. A 16-year-old girl allegedly grabbed the pepper ball launcher, authorities said. As a deputy pulled the girl away, she landed on the ground. During the incident, a 16-year-old boy punched one of the deputies in the face, sheriff’s officials said.
The deputy gained control of the boy and handcuffed him. The teen girl was taken to a hospital for treatment for her injuries, police stated.
Mother wants 'justice'
Jeffers told KTLA that the deputy "picked my daughter up, and he just tossed her. He just threw her on the floor with no remorse."
More: Frustrated protesters clash with deputies in Victorville, some arrested
Jeffers said another girl was bullying Faith at a different high school. That girl reportedly showed up to the football game in Victorville to confront her, which led to the altercation, KTLA reported.
Faith's mother said she wants 'justice" for her daughter.
Video
A video posted to a private social media account shows what looks like deputies, security personnel, and young people involved in a skirmish. At one point, a man who looked like a deputy appears to pick up a young girl and throw her to the ground.
The girl appeared to have landed on her head and shoulders before resting motionless on the ground. Several voices can be heard gasping at the sight.
The person shooting the video rushes to the girl, who appeared to be unconscious. Meanwhile, a woman with a radio calls for help while holding the girl’s head.
Arrest made
The teen boy was arrested and booked at High Desert Juvenile Hall in Apple Valley, authorities said.
A report will be forwarded to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office for review of charges against the boy and the injured girl who allegedly tried to swipe the pepper ball gun, according to sheriff's officials.
Sheriff's officials did not reveal the motive for the fight or the teen girl's condition.
Heavy police presence
The incident happened just before the end of Victor Valley's 22-14 victory over Big Bear at Ray Moore Stadium, according to a Daily Press reporter.
Following the post-game handshakes, the players were sent to the locker room due to a heavy police presence at the stadium. The reporter had to conduct post-game telephone interviews with two Victor Valley players.
As the reporter was leaving the stadium, he identified himself to deputies and asked what was happening and if everything was OK. The deputy told him, "Everything's OK. Just kids being kids."
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Victorville Sheriff’s Station at 760-241-2911 or sheriff’s dispatch at 760-956-5001. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can contact the We-Tip Hotline at 800-78CRIME (27463) or wetip.com.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Victor Valley High School brawl sends girl to hospital, boy arrested
