A Barton Community College student accosted an instructor at about 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9.
The student has been incarcerated and is not expected to be released anytime soon. Students, faculty and staff are safe.
The primary objective of Barton’s Campus Safety personnel was to remove the student from the public area. The student was moved to an office where a Campus Safety employee attempted to defuse the situation. The employee contacted authorities and had additional staff on hand to minimize the student’s contact with the public.
If the situation had not been contained, or if it was determined that there was danger to employees, students or the public, the campus emergency notification system would have been activated. The situation was contained, therefore campus wide notification was not necessary.
Those involved did not require medical attention or hospitalization.
No weapons were involved.
More information has been provided via a news release from the Barton County Sheriff's Office:
On December 9, 2014 at about 2 PM, Sheriff’s officers were dispatched to Barton Community College, located at 245 NE. 30 Road, to the “Technical Building” in reference to a disturbance call in progress.
Investigation indicates that a student of the institution became agitated about a grade on a final exam. Evidently the suspect began throwing chairs and damaging other property. The suspect then engaged in a physical altercation with a female faculty member. He was restrained by other staff and faculty and was removed to the security director’s office and remained there until the arrival of Sheriff’s Deputies. The suspect was placed under arrest without incident and taken into custody.
Investigation indicates this was a physical confrontation only no weapons were involved. It appears any injuries, if any, will be very minor.
Suspect was identified as Jacob Flax, age 26, of Otis. Flax was evaluated by the Center for Counseling and remains in custody at this time. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Kansas Highway Patrol and college security.
- Sheriff Brian J. Bellendir