MASON CITY – The following is a joint statement from Mason City Police Department and Mason City Community School District regarding an alleged bullying incident and assault reported Aug 29, 2014:
Mason City School Officials and Police Officers have completed their joint investigation into this matter. This incident occurred August 29 after a bus dropped off the students at a bus stop and had driven away. The fight occurred away from the bus stop. It did not occur on school grounds nor was it observed by school personnel.
Police determined that the individuals involved had a lengthy ongoing feud which culminated in a physical fight after the two groups exited the bus and began exchanging words after the bus had left the area. Because participation in the physical altercation appeared to be willing and mutual, those involved were given the option of everyone being charged with Disorderly Conduct or no charges being filed at this time. Those involved have chosen to forgo charges at this time.
Mason City Community School District personnel have visited with each student involved and their parents. An agreement was reached by all on what appropriate behavior was expected from students within the school setting.
The mother of one of the alleged victims (all whom wish to remain anonymous) in the case said Friday: “Thank You to Mr. Anderson at the high school for making the girls delete the video off their phones before handing it over to the police, I am sure they shared it before that but at least you witnessed it in your office, and thank you for taking the 4 of them off my daughter’s bus! It’s a start and that is all I am asking for! And Thank you to my brother Ben Fistler for standing up for them also. I’m not done on this bullying in school, but we are making progress!”
NIT previously reported that the mother had described the alleged incident this way:
A High School freshman girl “gets on the bus and is listening to crap from 4 diffrent girls on the bus saying how they are going to kick her ass when she and her friend get off. They even go so far as to put their hair up in a ponytails, (don’t wanna mess up their hair I guess). As soon as my daughter and her friend get off they follow, two of them are video taping the whole thing on their cell phones. They relentlessly harrass them walking home until my daughter drops her bag, turns around to say something to them (not so nice I am sure). Mistake made right then and there. According to the MCPD as soon as she did that, she faces disorderly conduct charges!!! What?? If she would of allowed these girls to hit her from behind, slam her to the ground and god knows what else, they could be charged, other wise it is charges against all involved because she “engaged” them. So basically her telling them to leave her alone is charges against her? For what? Standing up for herself?”
Just another cop out by the Mason City school district. Your daughter will be harassed until these other girls are out the system. good luck
Sounds like they did it right this time.
What I meant was they did not charge the girl who did nothing but defend herself. What happens after they leave the school bus and the school should not be any of the schools business. It is the schools job to provide education and protection while the child is in school, but not to raise our kids. The only way to stop a bully is to show them you are not afraid of them. You do that by standing up to them, not calling the police or the school.
Those four girls we not allowed to be on that bus -was the driver blind? They followed those two girls That’s called STALKING ! Thats a crime by itself !
Agreed. And, one was overheard bragging about lying & saying she was riding bus to her aunt’s that day. Wonder if she has a bus pass at all…?