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Student investigated for brandishing knife

Aspen Times Staff Report

A 17-year-old male student at Basalt High School is being investigated for allegedly brandishing a knife during an argument with another student, according to authorities.

There were no injuries in the Nov. 23 incident, but school officials called police after the youth made a “gesture that wasn’t proper” with the knife, according to Basalt Police Department spokeswoman Betty Nye.

“There wasn’t an assault that took place,” Nye said. “It was just a menacing gesture.”



The police department turned the matter over to the Pitkin County district attorney’s office for a decision on whether or not charges will be filed.

Although the incident is alleged to have occurred on school grounds – and is clearly a matter of interest to parents who have kids in the school – neither the assistant district attorney nor the school superintendent intend to disclose how they will resolve the issue.




Assistant District Attorney Lawson Wills would not disclose whether charges have been or will be filed. He wouldn’t even acknowledge whether the Basalt High School case is being investigated.

“We have a policy of not discussing juvenile cases,” Wills said.

Superintendent Fred Wall also declined to discuss the Basalt High School incident. The school district’s general policy, he said, is expulsion for possession of a weapon at a school. The expulsion can be up to one year.

“It is mandatory to hold a hearing,” said Wall. “It is not mandatory to expel.”

A student accused of possessing a weapon is suspended until an expulsion hearing is held, Wall said.

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