By Jon Chown
WATSONVILLE — Police are reportedly still investigating the motive behind a day of violence at Watsonville High School on Oct. 24 that left two students and a teacher in the hospital.
According to a host of reporting by local media, a staff member was stabbed along with two students during separate incidents. Four minors were arrested.
It started with a 16-year-old suspect attacking a 14-year-old student, injuring the student and a security guard who was trying to stop the violence. Later, three students attacked another student. Those three and the 16-year-old were all arrested for felony battery and assault with a deadly weapon.
Alejandro Chavez, public information officer for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, said staff called 911 immediately and a police sergeant was on the scene in less than two minutes.
However, since the suspects are all under 18, police are unable to interview them, according to Michelle Pulido, public information officer for the city of Watsonville.
“It gets complicated because our detectives are not able to interview the suspects because they’re under age. It makes it very difficult for our officers,” she said.
The city and police department would release no further information on the case. Pulido said she did not know if the suspects were still in custody.
The claim that the police are unable to interview suspects under 18 appears to differ from state law. In California, due to the passage in 2020 of SB203, for suspects under 18, police are prohibited from conducting an interrogation until the minor has first consulted with an attorney. Neither the minor nor their parent can waive this right. A minor can also ask for their parent to be present during questioning, and if that request is denied, it may affect whether a court considers any statements to have been made voluntarily.
When this was pointed out, Pulido said Senate Bill 203 eliminated all interrogation of any suspect under 18 at all. However, an information bulletin released by the California Department of Justice in 2023 also clarifies that suspects under the age of 18 cannot be interrogated without first consulting a lawyer.
“In recognition of the growing body of research concluding that ‘children and adolescents are much more vulnerable to psychologically coercive interrogations and in other dealings with the police’ than adults, the bill requires that a youth 17 years of age or younger consult with legal counsel prior to a custodial interrogation, and this consultation may not be waived,” reads the bulletin. It was sent by Michael Newman, senior assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Enforcement Section. Newman is away from the office until Nov. 3 and could not be reached for comment.
While there seems to be confusion regarding the investigation, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District has been active. The school resource officer that had split time between Pajaro Valley High School and Watsonville High School has been assigned to Watsonville full-time for now.
“We are following all protocols that were in place before the incident occurred, and in addition, we now have a larger law enforcement presence, and we’re just being more vigilant,” Chavez said.
As per the investigation, Chavez said he also was unaware of exactly where it was, but said the school district is helping in any way it can.
“I can tell you that the school administration and PVUSD is working with law enforcement and allowing them to finish their investigation, as well as an investigation to see if protocols were followed.”
Counseling is being offered to staff and students at WHS. Chavez said many have taken advantage of it.
“We are providing support and health care to anyone in need,” he said. “We have a Wellness Center, and counseling for students and staff.”