Police called after 9-year-old goes berserk at school

Herald — September 20, 2007

Police were called after a nine-year-old boy went berserk at a Palmerston North primary school leaving teachers fearing for their safety. A police officer was despatched to Hokowhitu School about midday yesterday to deal with the pupil, who was abusing people and waving a stick in the playground.

The trouble started when the boy got into a fight with a classmate and then took offence when a teacher stepped in, the Dominion Post reported today. "He began arguing with the teacher then took off out of class and got hold of a stick," Constable Darren Paki said.

The teachers were unable to get the stick off him, they were worried about their safety and the repercussions of manhandling a student." Mr Paki said staff watched the boy from a distance across the playground until he arrived.

"He calmed down a bit. I chatted to him for a while and he handed the stick over. I spoke to his mother and he was sent home." The school refused to say if the boy had been suspended.