Note to Our Readers: Our schools and lives in the Mountain Community are an oasis from the violence of big-city schools and streets. Our community newspaper is committed to help maintain that quality of life here.
This story is about an unusual violent event at a school function. Law enforcement and school officials have followed their own rules. It is our legal right as a newspaper to use our discretion. We have decided, in a case where a youth initiates violence, that it is appropriate to name names. We have carefully fact-checked the details with all parties and this story reflects all parties’ points of view. –Editor
By Patric Hedlund
A 17-year-old female student was arrested on two counts of battery on school property at Frazier Mountain High School on Friday, Feb. 11, according to Kern County Sheriff’s Sergeant Mark Brown. She reportedly caused visible injuries to the face of a male teacher and visible injuries to the face, neck and right forearm of a 15-year-old girl during an incident at the “MORP” dance (‘prom’ spelled backward).
Witnesses said Chelsie Gallatin allegedly attacked a student inside the dance, then allegedly kicked Associated Student Body (ASB) Advisor Tim Garcia. “We called 911 for the sheriff after she kicked me in the face and chest,” Garcia said, adding that “she ruined a good sweater and shredded my shirt.”
In an interview Tuesday, Jan. 15 the student who was attacked said she was dragged across the floor by the hair, that her face and arms were scratched and that she was kicked.
In an interview the same day, Gallatin admits she threw the first punch, but says she was also hit. She accused the younger student of pulling her hair.
Gallatin said that after the fight she was looking for her cell phone with the assistance of two teachers when Garcia grabbed her arm to propel her out of the dance. She says she entered into a scuffle with him, that she tore his shirt while struggling and then the two fell to the floor. She said she “punched him in the face” when he fell on her.
Garcia said he does not plan to file civil charges but is very concerned.
Gallatin is accused of also making telephone threats to the younger girl, but she claims the calls were placed by the other student and that it is she who was threatened. Gallatin is alleged to have a history of frequent fights. ”I’ve been in a few fights,” she agreed, but added that she was moved from FMHS to the El Tejon Continuation High School because of bad grades. She said she was removed from the Continuation High School “because a girl attacked me there.” She said she then went into an independent study program because a teacher told her, “there is less drama that way.”
The 15-year-old’s guardian said she is not confident she has been told the full story about how Gallatin gained entry to the dance. She said that the arresting deputy reported that Gallatin’s name was not on the “admit” list. On Monday, when she went to the school, the guardian said Principal Dan Penner contradicted the deputy, saying he had done a “deep search” and found Gallatin’s name on the list.
The guardian said she lacks confidence in what she is being told, and that she is concerned about the safety of students. Calls and emails to Penner from The Mountain Enterprise were not answered.
Gallatin, who will be 18 on May 5, said she talked with Penner the day before the dance and that he told her she could come to the dance “by just paying at the door.”
The family of the 15-yearold is filing a restraining order against Gallatin, they said.
Still, ASB advisor Garcia reports, “The dance was going so well, thankfully most students didn’t know [the assaults] happened,” He said the junior class made $1,000 profit to be used to help host the senior prom.
This is part of the February 18, 2011 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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