Plano police are ready for this Friday’s high school football games, as well as any altercations that may follow.
Police plan to be at the stadiums and at different popular hangouts, including the Whataburger on Coit near Spring Creek where a massive brawl involving hundreds of teens broke out last Friday night after a high school football game between Plano and Plano West.
The brawl resulted in the arrest of a total of five people.
One person arrested after last Friday's incident is telling those close to him that he was never part of the fight itself, and accidentally struck a Plano police officer when the officer startled him.
These days teens and police say it is common for fights amongst high school students to end up online. This time, it was the magnitude of people involved that concerned police.
“The number of people that were there, it does meet the definition of a riot. It’s been several years since we’ve experienced anything like that,” said David Tilley with the Plano Police Department.
Leigh McGuill, who just graduated from one of the high schools, remembers being at that Whataburger when fights have broken out.
“It’s scary, because you don’t know who’s going to start fighting and you don’t want to get in the middle of anything. You don’t want to get pushed out or something,” she said.
Tilley said police are concerned it could happen again.
“We’re very concerned or else we wouldn’t be going through these efforts. We’re going to be very proactive,” Tilley said. “The idea is we just want you to know we are there and we’re going to be watching."
The principal at Plano West High School, Katherine King, is also taking a proactive stance. She released a letter to parents on Thursday that said the following.
Dear Parents,
Subject: Friday Night’s Football Games: PSHS v. Allen / PWSH v. PESHIn light of community concern regarding a disturbance at a local fast food restaurant following last Friday night’s football game, I would like to reassure our parents and students that, as always, the district will have appropriate levels of security in place at Clark and Kimbrough Stadiums for our Friday night football games. As is our standard practice, the district has partnered with officers from the Plano Police Department, Murphy Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to promote a safe and secure atmosphere at these venues. It is our goal that our regular, fun-filled game day and evening activities are not marred.Additionally, the Plano Police Department has mobilized significant resources to address disorderly conduct and similar problems at known off-campus gathering places. We have been asked to convey a very clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated, and that police will respond with swift enforcement, including citations and arrests, if violations are observed.
I wanted to let you know as parents and fans, that Plano West Senior High and Plano ISD are preparing for an exciting, spirited night of sportsmanlike competition and a supportive, well behaved student audience. Please note that while we frequently remind our students that good citizenship and respectful behaviors are expected at school events, the entire school community and our partners in law enforcement will appreciate your assistance in reinforcing to your Plano West student that good citizenship is expected at all times. Whether at school events or in their discretionary/recreation time, the reputation of a Plano West student does not stop at the school door--despite the fact that we cannot control decisions made by these young adults. It is my hope that through our collaborative partnerships as school officials, law enforcement and strong families, we can influence our students to make good decisions regarding behavior at all times.
Sincerely,
Katherine King, Principal
Plano West Senior High School
NBC 5's Kevin Cokely contributed to this report.
