Portage Northern student tased;arrested

PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD) - A 17-year-old Portage Northern High School student is in jail after using a knife to threaten a school liaison officer.

A police officer used a stun gun to subdue the teen before taking him into custody at the school Monday afternoon.

School officials were looking into an incident with the student who was demonstrating "strange and threatening behavior," according to a news release from the Portage Department of Public Safety.

The on-site school liaison officer from the police department talked at 12:09 p.m. with the student who then brandished the knife and threatened the officer.

The officer used a Taser to help arrest the student on charges of felonious assault and assault on a police officer.

Portage police credit the presence and quick actions of the school liaison officer in preventing the incident from becoming a tragic situation.

Portage Northern High School released this statement Monday afternoon:

"This is a discipline issue between a student and the PNHS administration, we do not comment on student issues in order to respect family & student privacy rights. Portage Public Schools was able to maintain a safe and secure learning environment. No students were in danger."

Portage police continue to investigate and anyone with more information about the case is asked to call them at 269.329.4567 or Silent Observer at 269.343.2100.