Crime & Safety

Pipe-Wielding Student Prompts High School Lockdown

The 18-year-old student refused to relinquish the weapon, according to police.

A Hamden High School student was tasered Wednesday morning after he allegedly refused police orders to drop a pipe he was holding in the school's courtyard.

At about 8:50 a.m. Wednesday, School Resource Officer Paul Calamita got a report of the student in the courtyard with a steel pipe, police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith said. School security also reported that the student had smashed several windows with the pipe, Smith said. 

When he got to the courtyard, Calamita saw the student with the pipe, Smith said, and around him were several teachers and adult staff who were "in fear for their safety," Smith said.

Find out what's happening in Hamdenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Calamita ordered the 18-year-old student to drop the pipe several times, Smith said, but he refused, forcing Calamita to taser him. After a physical struggle, during which the student continued to refuse to give up the pipe, Calamita was able to subdue him, Smith said.

Hamden Fire Rescue responded to treat the student, who was then transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital for treatment, Smith said.

Find out what's happening in Hamdenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

School administration placed the school in lockdown for about an hour. Damage to the windows has been estimated at several thousand dollars, Smith said.

The investigation is continuing, Smith said, and police expect to make an arrest in the near future. The student's identity has not yet been released.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.