Homecoming prank leads to charges

FARMINGTON - Because of a prank on the first night of this year’s homecoming week, 17 Farmington High School students face possible charges.
Farmington police chief Brian Lindquist said the police department is taking a zero-tolerance stand when it comes to endangering the lives of students - even if it’s only a prank.
According to Farmington police officer Brianna Larson, who was filling in as school resource officer last week, there was a “war” between the junior and senior class during homecoming week. Late in the evening of Sept. 27, a group of seniors “kidnapped” four students from the junior class. Two of the students had their hands zip-tied behind their backs, and were placed in the trunk of a car. Two more students were placed in the back seat of the car. One of those student’s hands were also zip-tied together.
An attempt was made to take two more students, Larson said, but the two students got away.
The driver of the vehicle, who has not yet been identified, took the car on a joyride through Farmington. Several more students, in additional vehicles, followed along.
“There were other vehicles that were following that driver,” Larson said. “It was kind of like a big caravan, basically.”
The fun ended when the driver of the vehicle with the abducted juniors got into a minor accident early Sept. 28.
Larson said police were notified later that day.
In the days that followed, Larson’s investigation revealed that 17 students were involved in the joyriding incident.
“The entire case is being sent to the Dakota County attorney,” Larson said. “It’s possible that all 17 could be charged to varying degrees. They’re going to look at (each student’s) involvement and make a determination in each case.”
Farmington police find the incident troubling. What’s more, Larson learned this was not the first time something of this nature has happened during homecoming week in previous years.
Lindquist said the police department does not tolerate any kind of activity of this nature.
“This is not to be tolerated. Kids will be charged,” he said. “If you do something like that, you have to understand there will always be consequences.”
Farmington High School principal Jason Berg points out that most of the high school students did make good decisions during homecoming week. He considers the week of activity to be a success for the high school, and the community.
“A majority of our kids are out there, taking advantage of the opportunities we give them to have a safe homecoming,” Berg said. “Our kids were having a good time in a way we would like to see them having a good time.”
But the homecoming prank has not passed unnoticed by high school administration, he added.
“We just have to keep working with our students about making good decisions,” he said.