Published: October 11, 2006 11:19 pm      

Teenager is cited for knife at school

ROCKWOOD — A 16-year-old student at an alternative school was cited Wednesday for carrying a small pocketknife on campus, just a week after three Berlin Brothersvalley students were suspected of having an assault rifle.

The pocketknife was found during a random search conducted by school officials, state police said.

The unidentified student, who is from Somerset, was removed from school and released into the custody of a parent, authorities said.

A juvenile petition was filed with the Somerset County Juvenile Probation Department.

“There was no sign of intended use of this weapon,” state police Trooper Todd Sherle said in a release.

The Somerset County school is operated by Alternative Community Resource Program, based in Johnstown. It instructs as many as 24 students who have been removed from their home districts throughout the county; 12 were at the school Wednesday, Director Jeff Rowe said.

The school operates out of Rockwood Elementary School in Milford Township, Rockwood High School Principal Mark Bower said.

Students found with weapons on school property face automatic expulsion, Bower said. “Just like anything else, we’re diligent (about) who’s in the building,” he said.

On Oct. 4, state police said three Berlin Brothersvalley High Schoolers had an assault rifle on school grounds. Authorities said one of the boys had shown the rifle to a friend the night before and forgot it was in his car.