11-year-old Saline boy hospitalized following assault by group of students

Saline police say an 11-year-old boy fell unconscious and went into convulsions after he was assaulted by a group of students on a school playground earlier this week.

The victim, a 6th grade student at Heritage Elementary School, was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center by ambulance after school officials learned he was suffering seizure-like symptoms late Tuesday morning. He was released later that evening.

Heritage School.

Courtesy of Saline Area Schools

School officials learned the incident started with a fight and alerted police, who are still investigating, Saline Police Paul Bunten said.

Bunten said the altercation started shortly after 11 a.m. during lunch hour at the school at 290 E. Woodland Dr. The victim was surrounded by the students on a field and was pushed to the ground by one of them, reports said. They then kicked and punched him on the ground.

Police reports show a parent volunteer was monitoring the playground at the time but could not immediately see what was happening because the students surrounded the boy in a circle and blocked her view.

Investigators do not believe the boy suffered from any pre-existing medical conditions.

“They were on playground when one child pushed another hard from behind and it was hard enough that his head snapped back, and he went into convulsions,” Bunten said.

Bunten said officers have not yet spoken to all the students involved and do not yet have permission from all of their parents. Some interviews with students and their parents were scheduled for Friday evening.

Bunten said there is some indication of prior incidents involving the victim and at least one of the students, who are also in 6th grade.

“We haven’t talked to all the kids involved, but there’s no information we have yet that indicates this was an assault to intentionally injure the victim,” Bunten said.

School Superintendent Scot Graden said the district is conducting its own investigation into the incident and has already disciplined the seven students believed to be involved. He would not elaborate.

The school sent letters home with students indicating an incident involving an injury occurred, and police were investigating.

“From our standpoint, this is a very serious incident and we’re trying to make sure we do a thorough review of all the information,” he said.

Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.