Posted on: Tuesday, January 29, 2002

Waialua student arrested in assault

By Brandon Masuoka and Jennifer Hiller
Advertiser Staff Writers

Police arrested a 17-year-old Waialua High School student on suspicion of second-degree assault after he allegedly pushed a 55-year-old counselor who later experienced an apparent heart attack on Friday.

The counselor is recovering and appears to be doing well following surgery at The Queen's Medical Center, said Department of Education spokesman Greg Knudsen. School officials and police are investigating the incident, he said.

"We're being cautious about making a connection between the incident and the medical condition that followed," Knudsen said. "It's still being investigated. There are some things that are not in full agreement."

The student was released from custody pending further investigation, police said. He has been suspended from school for five days, Knudsen said.

According to police, the incident occurred at 10:15 a.m. as the counselor saw the student walking in a hallway unescorted. The counselor stopped the youth and asked him where he was going. He responded that he was walking to class.

The counselor then began to escort the youth to class, but the youth decided he no longer wanted to comply with the counselor and attempted to leave.

The counselor told the student he needed to return to class with him. The youth became upset and pushed the counselor in the chest with both hands in an attempt to flee. Another teacher saw the incident and helped detain the youth. The teacher then helped the counselor escort the youth to the office and notified police.

While waiting for the police to arrive, the counselor began to have chest pains and was taken by ambulance to the hospital.