Police in Gaithersburg, Maryland, said five people 鈥� four juveniles and one man 鈥� have been charged in connection with a brawl that broke out at a high school football game Friday night.
The four minors were charged with assault, while a 19-year-old man from Germantown has been charged with second-degree assault, disorderly conduct and two other charges.
The incident took place at Gaithersburg High School during a varsity high school football game between Gaithersburg and Northwest. After players and coaches started fighting on the field, police said other 鈥減hysical altercations began to break out鈥� all over the school鈥檚 property.
Officer Dan Lane, a spokesman for the Gaithersburg Police Department, said the charges were a result of 鈥渇ights that occurred off the field and as crowds were dispersing.鈥�
Gaithersburg Principal Cary Dimmick and Northwest Principal Scott Smith Saturday stating all 鈥渇ootball operations鈥� at both schools were temporarily suspended.
In addition, both institutions plan to review their security procedures for athletic events. Once completed, the findings will be shared with their respective school communities.
At his weekly briefing with reporters on Monday, Montgomery County Council President Gabe Albornoz said sports can often bring out the best in communities.
鈥淯nfortunately, that night presented what sports can be at their worst,鈥� he said, calling the incident 鈥渄isappointing and somewhat shocking.鈥�
Albornoz said that the school system 鈥渋s treating this incident very seriously鈥� and that 鈥渢hey have stepped up efforts with the Montgomery County Police Department on the safety and security side.鈥�
海角社区app has reached out to Montgomery County Public Schools for comment.
海角社区app鈥檚 Jos茅 Uma帽a contributed to this story.
