Parent arrested at EastSide School

[Mrs.Slotz]

sorry about the way this looks, I had to copy and paste it this way.
But.

I wonder what the heck is up with this.

Parent arrested at Eastside
By Jeff Jones jeffj@kpcnews.net
Thursday, 08 October 2009 15:39

BUTLER — A parent who became loud and belligerent with school officials and police officers at Eastside Junior-Senior High School, 603 E. Green St., was arrested by Butler Police Thursday morning.

Mark A. Marks Sr., 41, of the 2700 block of C.R. 63, Butler, has been charged with criminal trespassing, a Class D felony; intimidation, a Class D felony; resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor; battery against law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, a Class B misdemeanor.

He was being held at the DeKalb County Jail without bond.

Police were called to the school’s main office at 9:30 a.m. when a parent refused to leave the building, according to Police Chief Jim Nichols.

Marks reportedly was visiting the school regarding a school assignment involving a student when the situation escalated, according to DeKalb Eastern superintendent Dr. Jeff Stephens.

School officials asked Marks to leave the building. When Marks refused to leave, police were called, Nichols explained.

“We ordered Mr. Marks to leave several times, and we attempted to escort him from the building,” Nichols stated.

At that point, Marks began to physically resist police officers, at which time Marks was told he was under arrest.

When Marks continued to refuse to comply with police officers, he was told he would be Tasered, Nichols explained.

When Marks continued to resist, he was shocked with a Taser device once, but the instrument did not completely incapacitate him. At that point, Marks ran to the opposite end of the offices, out the doors to his vehicle, parked in front of the school, and locked himself inside.

Police surrounded Marks’ car and ordered him to open the door. Marks was placed into custody and taken to the jail at 10:30 a.m.

There were no injuries to police officers or school officials. The situation was confined to the high school office area, Stephens said.

The incident will result in Marks being barred from any school functions and activities on DeKalb Eastern school district property, Stephens added.

Waterloo, Hamilton, Indiana State Police and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department assisted Butler Police.

[Mrs.Slotz]

What a wonderful example for our children!!

[HoosierHelen]

This is the school district for our community.

I do not know this individual, however, the most immediate reaction I felt after reading this story is...OH MAN what kind of embarrassment and humilitation this must have caused this man's child.

This father certainly deserves to be entered into mandatory counseling for anger management and perhaps more?

The child of this man deserves the opportunity to receive professional counseling to assist them in dealing with this horrible experience.

I sincerely hope the students at Eastside will not judge their fellow student by the behavior of this student's parent. This young person needs the support of his classmates and community to get through this one.

[Mrs.Slotz]

This is the school district for our community.

I do not know this individual, however, the most immediate reaction I felt after reading this story is...OH MAN what kind of embarrassment and humilitation this must have caused this man's child.

This father certainly deserves to be entered into mandatory counseling for anger management and perhaps more?

The child of this man deserves the opportunity to receive professional counseling to assist them in dealing with this horrible experience.

I sincerely hope the students at Eastside will not judge their fellow student by the behavior of this student's parent. This young person needs the support of his classmates and community to get through this one.

I agree with you 100%.

[Worrywort]

Where did it say it was his child?

[HoosierHelen]

Where did it say it was his child?

I came to that conclusion from the first sentence of the article:

BUTLER — A parent who became loud and belligerent with school officials and police officers at Eastside Junior-Senior High School, 603 E. Green St., was arrested by Butler Police Thursday morning.

[teardrop4emr]

Where did it say it was his child?

They did not say that the student involved with the assignment (in the artcle) was his child, just that the man's child(ren) must attend that school. Kids find a lot of things to pick on others about.

I think what they were talking about was that due to the father's actions the son(s)/daughter(s) at the school may get treated with disrespect. I hope that doesn't happen.

I hope I didn't "step on anyone's toes" here. It is just my interpretation of what was written

[Mrs.Slotz]

I get your point.
But,
If he was not the Parent of a student,
Would it not say, perhaps,
A Butler Man.........

[evilkumquat]

I can understand the disorderly conduct charge, but "trespassing"?

Public school- public property.

Arrest him for being violent, but he had every right to be there.

[Mrs.Slotz]

I can understand the disorderly conduct charge, but "trespassing"?

Public school- public property.

Arrest him for being violent, but he had every right to be there.

Maybe it was a parent of a student that had a no contact order due to a court order to see his child?
and
went to the school to see his child and then it was considered trespassing?

i don't know,
just guessing now.

[matt_s]

When he was asked to leave the premise and remained, at that time, he was trespassing. Public property does not mean the public has unmitigated access.

[Mrs.Slotz]

When he was asked to leave the premise and remained, at that time, he was trespassing. Public property does not mean the public has unmitigated access.

Thank you for that. I did not know that.

[HoosierHelen]

I especially look forward to more information on this incident.

As Evil has said...how they can charge a parent with trespassing is a mistake in my mind also. A public school where your child is a student seems like a reasonable place for a parent to appear.

IF his behavior was physically threatening to the staff in the administration office...that would be a different charge and dependent on level of threat as to what exact charge would apply.

I sincerely hope that KPC will report more details on this incident.

[HoosierHelen]

When he was asked to leave the premise and remained, at that time, he was trespassing. Public property does not mean the public has unmitigated access.

I do understand what you are saying here...however...if he had showed up with words of praise and flowers for the teachers...he would NOT have been trespassing.

The behavior that occurred upon his visit is what is in question. That is where the charges should be focused. (In my opinion).

[matt_s]

I do understand what you are saying here...however...if he had showed up with words of praise and flowers for the teachers...he would NOT have been trespassing.

The behavior that occurred upon his visit is what is in question. That is where the charges should be focused. (In my opinion).

He probably wasn't asked to leave because he was there. He was probably asked to leave because of the disturbance he was creating. So you are right, if he had shown up with happy words and not created a disturbance he probably would not have been asked to leave and therefore would not have been trespassing.

But, he was trespassing. Do we simply ask the prosecutor to ignore this? Maybe this will get tossed out or plead out later. I say charge him with everything possible. Then let the process move forward. If some charges get dropped later they get dropped. It will be more difficult to add things later.

[HoosierHelen]

He probably wasn't asked to leave because he was there. He was probably asked to leave because of the disturbance he was creating. So you are right, if he had shown up with happy words and not created a disturbance he probably would not have been asked to leave and therefore would not have been trespassing.

But, he was trespassing. Do we simply ask the prosecutor to ignore this? Maybe this will get tossed out or plead out later. I say charge him with everything possible. Then let the process move forward. If some charges get dropped later they get dropped. It will be more difficult to add things later.

Matt...I have absolutely NO knowledge of who this individual is or the circumstances involved.

That being said...if he was asked to leave a public school without valid cause...the school administration may have been out of line? We really do not know those facts yet. IF the school administration did not choose to answer his questions, was he trespassing...or were they avoiding his questions by making that charge?

Thankfully we have a court system that will listen to both sides of this event and make the final determination.

[Mrs.Slotz]

Matt...I have absolutely NO knowledge of who this individual is or the circumstances involved.

That being said...if he was asked to leave a public school without valid cause...the school administration may have been out of line? We really do not know those facts yet. IF the school administration did not choose to answer his questions, was he trespassing...or were they avoiding his questions by making that charge?

Thankfully we have a court system that will listen to both sides of this event and make the final determination.

Great point Helen. Hopefully our great reporters from the "Star" will have an update for us shortly.
He was there for a reason, i am sure.

[blue adept]

He probably wasn't asked to leave because he was there. He was probably asked to leave because of the disturbance he was creating. So you are right, if he had shown up with happy words and not created a disturbance he probably would not have been asked to leave and therefore would not have been trespassing.

But, he was trespassing. Do we simply ask the prosecutor to ignore this? Maybe this will get tossed out or plead out later. I say charge him with everything possible. Then let the process move forward. If some charges get dropped later they get dropped. It will be more difficult to add things later.

I disagree, if he has the ability to not pay the taxes, then maybe you could charge him with tresspass. The fact that nobody has the ability to not pay taxes, should give us unfettered access to PUBLIC property. This is my opinion, and I realize that the law may differ, but wrong is wrong.

[NurseRita]

My question is this: Just exactly what was the assignment the parent was so concerned about and WHY was he concerned? While i disagree with his actions surely there must have been a reason for him to question it.

[HoosierHelen]

My question is this: Just exactly what was the assignment the parent was so concerned about and WHY was he concerned? While i disagree with his actions surely there must have been a reason for him to question it.

Nurse Rita,

That is what I am wanting to know also. It does sound like the parent went over the top with emotional response ..... I just really would have expected the school administration to be able to negotiate a more peaceful resolution than what this turned into.

Hopefully more details will be reported on this story. I am interested.