This will serve as a joint statement from the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and the School Board of Highlands County-
An Avon Park High School student was arrested today after a disassembled handgun was found in his backpack following a scuffle with school staff and school resource deputies.
At 10:36 a.m., the Highlands County Sheriff's Office received a tip that a student was acting suspiciously off campus and was last seen headed toward the school.
The student, a 16-year-old male, then entered the campus and checked in at the school. He was then taken out of a classroom for questioning.
As the student was being escorted to the office, he began to fight school staff, which is when school resource deputies intervened.
A taser was used to subdue the student, and one of the school resource deputies suffered a slight cut on his arm. When the student's backpack was searched, a disassembled handgun was discovered. There was a loaded magazine (separated from the firearm components) and a small baggie of what appeared to be marijuana.
The student is being charged possession of a weapon on school grounds, possession of a handgun by a person under 21, disruption of a school function, and resisting arrest with violence.
"This is why we preach 'see something, say something' every day," Sheriff Paul Blackman said. "The system worked the way it is supposed to, which is why school staff and deputies were able to quickly identify this student and safely resolve the situation."