Student Held Hostage at South Cobb High School

A South Cobb and an Osborne high school student were arrested today after attempting to break in and steal from a South Cobb home and for subsequently holding another South Cobb High student hostage.

Principal Ashley Hosey wrote a letter being sent home to parents today explaining the details of the incident.

At about 11:30 a.m., Cobb Police were able to stop a burglary in progress when they responded to a call from a local citizen. The suspects fled on foot and in a vehicle. One went to South Cobb High's campus just as classes were changing, while another was arrested near the Rite-Aid on Austell Road across from the school.

The arrested individual was a student at Marietta's Osborne High School.

When the other suspect, a ninth grade student at South Cobb High, was confonted by the school's campus police officer, he grabbed another student. The officer drew his gun and demanded the release of the captive student.

The suspect released the student and tried to flee, but was caught by another campus police officer, who, after a struggle, subdued the suspect with pepper spray.

He was then arrested by Cobb Police, who later found the suspect had a loaded handgun on his person.

Hosey wrote in his letter, "Although no South Cobb students were hurt or endangered, this whole incident unfolded during the middle of one of our busiest class transitions and was witnessed by many students.  I am sending this letter to you to keep you informed as a parent of incidents that happen on and around our campus.

"I must commend not only the fast reactions and responses of our Campus officers , our administration, and staff but I must also thank our students for their calm response to the incident. I want to thank the Cobb County police department and our EMC workers for their quick response and their continued support and protection of our community and school."

Hosey's full letter to parents:

5/12/2011

Dear Parent/Guardian

This letter is being sent out to keep you informed as a parent. Today at approximately 11:30 am, Cobb County Police department responded to a burglary alarm at a house in a local neighborhood and interrupted a burglary in progress. At that time the suspects fled on foot and in a vehicle and the police gave chase.  Two of the suspect ran on to South Cobb’s campus at approximately 11:40 during the middle of class change between 2nd and 3rd period.  One of the suspects was apprehended by the police department across Austell Rd at the Rite Aid store. He was not a South Cobb student.

The other suspect was confronted by our campus police officer. At one point the suspect grabbed a student at which time our Campus officer drew his weapon and demanded that he release the student. The suspect did and then attempted to flee .Our campus officer caught the suspect and after struggling with him pepper sprayed him. The suspect was then handcuffed with the help of the Cobb County police officer who was in pursuit.  This suspect was a 9th grade student who recently enrolled at South Cobb high school.  After the suspect was apprehended, the Cobb EMC workers arrived to give medical assistance to the officers and the suspect for the pepper spray.  During this time, a loaded 380 hand gun was found on the suspect.   Both suspects were transported away from the scene by Cobb county police officers.

Although no South Cobb students were hurt or endangered, this whole incident unfolded during the middle of one of our busiest class transitions and was witnessed by many students.  I am sending this letter to you to keep you informed as a parent of incidents that happen on and around our campus.  

I must commend not only the fast reactions and responses of our Campus officers , our administration, and staff but I must also thank our students for their calm response to the incident. I want to thank the Cobb County police department and our EMC workers for their quick response and their continued support and protection of our community and school.

Sincerely