- A Kearns High student, 18, faces charges of kidnapping and assault.
- The incident involved a special needs student and occurred on April 1.
- Two other teens, ages 15 and 16, may also face charges in juvenile court.
KEARNS — A Kearns High School student is facing criminal charges accusing him of assaulting a student with special needs at the school and throwing him outside the building.
Ivan Rigby, 18, of Kearns, was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with kidnapping, a second-degree felony; and assault, a class B misdemeanor.
On April 1, Unified police were called to Kearns High School, 5525 S. Cougar Lane, on a report of an assault. Officers learned that Rigby and a 16-year-old student "had targeted a special needs student ... during the lunch hour," according to charging documents. The alleged victim is also 16. Prosecutors said a 15-year-old student may have also been in involved.
Officers reviewed security video that showed the 15-year-old took the vicim's backpack "and ran down the hall and around a corner" while the 16-year-old "continued to restrain (the victim), then got him up and restrained his arms behind his back while marching him down the hallway," the charges state.
"At this point, Rigby is seen with (the victim's) backpack and going down the hallway in front of (the victim and the 16-year-old). Rigby is then seen dangling the backpack in front of (the victim) while (the 16-year-old) is holding (the victim) from behind and forcing (his) head down," according to charging documents.
The victim is eventually able to grab his backpack. But the 16-year-old "then begins marching (the victim) through the hallways again until they are near one of the doors to the outside of the school. (The 16-year-old) wrapped his arms around (the victim) and would not let him leave," the charges state.
The 16-year-old then begins "dragging him to the exterior doors of the school as (the victim) kicked and tried to get away," and "Rigby then picked up (the victim's) feet and while another student opened the door, they carried (him) to the outside. (The victim) resisted, asked them to stop, and cried for help, but Rigby and (the 16-year-old) would not let him go, and (the victim) was thrown to the ground," according to the charges.
There was no immediate word on whether the 16- and- 15-year-old boys were also charged in juvenile court.
"Granite School District is aware of this incident and the associated allegations. We've followed our Safe School procedures and have established appropriate consequences," the Granite School District said in a statement.
This story may be updated.
