One parent was arrested Monday morning after they hit an Oak Park and River Forest High School security guard with a lock on a string, authorities said.
The intended target was another parent.
According to an email Principal Lynda Parker sent to parents after the incident, individuals from two families began a “verbal altercation” inside the school near the Welcome Center at about 7:45 a.m. Police said that it appeared the incident was a continuing feud over issues the parents’ daughters were having in school.
The argument became physical, and members of the school’s safety staff intervened. School officials called Oak Park police for assistance.
Police said that as the security guard attempted to break up the fight, one parent swung the lock, missed the other parent, and hit the security guard instead. The guard, who suffered swelling and bruising to the head, was taken to Rush Oak Park Hospital for treatment.
The parent with the lock was arrested on felony charges of aggravated battery-protected status/aggravated battery-public way. Police said that because of the ongoing threat to public safety at the school, the parent is being held for bond court.
Students were safe and rerouted to a different door during morning arrivals, officials said.
“I recognize that we live in an age where emotions run high on a variety of topics, and that can leave us feeling exposed and vulnerable,” Parker wrote. “However, this in no way gives license to anyone to significantly disrupt the learning environment at the high school.”
She said that she and her staff will “continue to work diligently to cultivate an environment that keeps education at the forefront of our priorities.”
