EMMET COUNTY, IOWA – Four juveniles were charged and six were hurt after an apparent riot recently at a Northern Iowa youth facility.
Six people were treated for injuries and four juveniles were charged as the result of an incident which occurred at the Forest Ridge Youth Services facility near Ingham Lake in Emmet County.
According to Emmet County Sheriff Mike Martens, on December 30th 2019 at 7:48pm deputies were dispatched to Forest Ridge at 4494 230th Street after the communications center received a call from this address requesting assistance with a disturbance at this location. Upon arrival at the scene, it was determined that six Forest Ridge staff members had been assaulted by four of the residents of the facility.
The four juvenile residents charged include: a 14-year-old who was charged with participation in a riot and four counts of assault, a 15-year-old female who was charged with participation in a riot and three counts of assault, a second 15- year-old female who was charged with participation in a riot and two counts of assault, and a 16-year-old female who was charged with participation in a riot and four counts of assault. All four were taken into custody at the scene and transported to Central Iowa Juvenile Detention in Eldora, Iowa.
The six staff members were transported to Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville for treatment of their injuries by the Estherville and Wallingford Ambulance Services. The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Estherville Police Department.
A charge is merely an allegation and all suspects are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.
