HUNTSVILLE, Alabama-- A female Johnson High School student reportedly suffered a concussion and a possible seizure earlier this semester after being tackled by a School Resource Officer trying to break up a fight.

Dr. Harry Hobbs, spokesman for the Huntsville Police Department, said an internal investigation into the April 18 incident is ongoing. The SRO is a Huntsville police officer.

"Our preliminary findings are that our SRO acted within accepted protocols to protect the students and adults that were near the altercation that was in progress," Hobbs said. "The safety of every student and adult in our schools is paramount to us and sometimes we are called upon to have to take action to protect their safety."

WAAY 31 obtained a video shot by a fellow student which shows the Johnson High School student being tackled by the officer after she was reportedly involved in a fight. The video shows the 15-year-old being tackled to the ground, and then being placed in handcuffs while she appears to have a seizure.

The girl's mother told WAAY 31 that she suffered a concussion in the incident.



Keith Ward, a spokesman for the school district, said that district officials are cooperating with the police department's review of the incident.

When asked about disciplinary action taken against the girl or others involved in the initial fight, Ward would say only that administrators followed the policy outlined in the district's Code of Student Conduct.

The code lists fighting as a Class II infraction. Punishment of a first Class II offense is in-school disciplinary action or suspension of up to five school days.

A second Class II violation can result in suspension of up to seven days. Two or more incidents can be punished as a Class III violation, which usually results in expulsion.

It was not clear if any of the students involved had been in fights at school before.

WAAY reports that the student is currently suspended and is facing possible expulsion, while the officer is still working at the school during the investigation.

To read WAAY 31's full report, click here.

Al.com staff writer Crystal Bonvillian contributed to this report.

Updated at 12:45 p.m. with information from a police spokesman.