On March 5th, deputies from the Talbot County Sheriff's Office, School Resource Unit charged a juvenile offender with assault. An investigation was initiated at Easton High School where it was reported that a 15-year-old student assaulted a 73-year-old substitute teacher over the student's cell phone. The Deputy was able to local video of the incident which showed the student knocked the teacher off a stool onto the floor, stand over top of him, strike him, and continue to make threats to assault him further.
After nearly two minutes, another student intervened bringing the assault to a stop. The student was charged with assault and disturbing school activities on a juvenile referral. The juvenile was released to a guarding pending further action by the Department of Juvenile Services.
On March 8th, deputies charged a juvenile offender with assault at St. Michaels High School. A 15 year old student assaulted the School Manager in the presence of the School Resource Officer. As the officer attempted to take the student into custody, the student pulled away and attempted to flee on foot. The student was taken into custody and charged with assault and resisting arrest on a juvenile referral. The juvenile was released to his mother pending further action by the Department of Juvenile Services.
The Talbot County Sheriff's Department responded on March 1st to a Public Information Act Request regarding reportable incidents in the Talbot County Public Schools in comparison to last year. During the entire 2022-2023 school year, there were 108 reportable incidents in the two high schools. Most of the incidents were assaults and controlled dangerous substance events. Eight were for having a weapon in school and five were sex offenses. The rest were various offenses.
In the 2023-2024 school year up to March 1st, there were 66 reportable incidents. This year, each school has at least one School Resource Officer funded by the Talbot County Sheriff's Department. Incidents reported include all the schools. Out of those 66 incidents, 43 were from the two high schools, 8 from the two middle schools, and 15 from the five elementary schools. Incidents included 31 assaults, 9 controlled dangerous substance possession, 6 for weapons, 5 for sex offenses, and four each for threats, theft, and malicious destruction of property/trespass.
Juvenile violence, particularly in schools, has become a hot button issue in the Maryland General Assembly after the passing of the more lenient "Juvenile Justice Reform" bills last year. Surrounding jurisdictions to Talbot are experiencing increased student violence in their schools.
