HOULTON, Maine — Officers responded to the Houlton High School at 12:42 p.m. Tuesday in response to a report of an attempted assault involving a knife.
The altercation involved two 15-year-old students. The weapon was a tactical-type knife with a 6-inch blade, according to Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin.
The high school was not placed in “lockdown,” but rather “secure classrooms.” The incident, which occurred in Timothy Tweedie’s classroom, began when a verbal exchange took place between a female and male student whereupon the female student allegedly reached into a book bag by her desk and pulled out a knife.
“The student then charged toward the male student,” Asselin said. “Mr. Tweedie quickly intervened and placed himself in-between the students and therefore in harm’s way. Mr. Tweedie wrestled with the student for control of the knife as she was trying to stab him and get free. With the assistance of another teacher, the student was subdued and the knife was taken from her possession. Mr. Tweedie suffered bite marks to his hands but is otherwise unharmed.”
Parents were notified. HPD subsequently escorted the student and her parents to the Houlton Regional Hospital where an evaluation of the student was expected to take place. The matter is still under investigation.
Officers Thereon Bickford and Stewart Kennedy responded.
