QUEEN CREEK, AZ -- Officials say 11 students were arrested and charged with aggravated assault after a fight with teachers and staff at a charter school in Queen Creek Wednesday.
Officials said deputies, Gilbert police and fire personnel were called to Canyon State Academy, near Rittenhouse and Hawes roads, where they found dozens of students and staff members in "hand to hand combat" in classrooms and hallways and outside.
According to a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office news release, some students were using broomsticks as weapons.
Several people were reportedly injured in the brawl and all were treated for minor injuries.
Students over the age of 18 were booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail and the juveniles were booked into the Southeast Juvenile Detention Center, officials said.
The school is reportedly a state-accredited charter school which takes in troubled males from around the country that are court ordered to attend such schools to continue their education.
According to the news release, nearly every student who attends the school is listed as a serious offender with past violent charges.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio said, “Teachers have a tough enough job today without having to go to school every day worrying about being physically assaulted like this. Hopefully, these students will be held responsible by the criminal justice system.”
