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Schools: Players who were Maced did nothing wrong
by Thomas Brennan
Staff writer
Feb 20, 2013 | 3524 views | 1 1 comments | 5 5 recommendations | email to a friend | print

ROWLAND — No charges will be filed in an incident that resulted in two basketball players being Maced at a game last week between South Robeson and Red Springs high schools, according to a Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

“We have fully analyzed all of the statements made by responders,” said Randall Graham. “All of the officers’ statements are consistent and it does not seem as though anyone will face charges.”

Tasha Oxendine, a spokesman for the Public Schools of Robeson County, said no students were suspended following investigations by principals at each school.

The Robesonian has received numerous complaints from people associated with both schools that a story published in Friday’s newspaper was inaccurate. The newspaper depended on information from the Sheriff’s Office for that story, but did not include information sent from the school system that had been received the day before. That was because of a mistake in communication among the staff, according to Editor Donnie Douglas.

According to the statement from Oxendine on behalf of the school system: “A parent began harassing the Red Springs coach. Some students took offense to the behavior and also became disruptive.”

Oxendine said students began crossing the court and walking up into the stands. According to Oxendine, there was no fight in the gym.

“The students were removed from the building,” she said in the statement. “No punches were thrown. No students from either team inside the gym have been found to have done anything wrong.”

The Sheriff’s Office said the incident began when two females and one male ran across the gym floor and began arguing with a female fan from South Robeson. While deputies were intervening, according to the Sheriff’s Office, two Red Springs ball players jumped into the bleachers.

The first player was removed successfully. The second player was Maced after being pulled out twice by the deputy. A third player from Red Springs then ran toward the deputy and was also Maced.

Red Springs High officials have said they did not want to comment. The South Robeson coach has told The Robesonian his players did nothing wrong.



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citizenofrobeson
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February 20, 2013
Glad to see that the School and the Robesonian made efforts to bring out the truth. On the other hand, the sheriff department is still covering their mishap on the back of students. The players did not go into the bleachers and the player did not approach the deputy. The resource officer reacted and maced when he should have been able to control the crowd. And by the way, there was another sheriffs deputy there. He wasnt recognized at first because he was in plain clothes. Ken Sealey is doing a wonderful job as Sheriff, I can't speak so highly of his staff that was involved in this incident. Thanks Robesonian and PSRC.