Hunting rifle found in Tomah students car
By Tribune staff | Posted: Saturday, December 18, 2010 12:00 am |
TOMAH A Tomah High School student faces criminal charges after a police dog discovered an unloaded .22 long rifle in the trunk of his car in schools parking lot, according to police.
Raymond Pegel, 17, of Tomah is expected to be charged with possession of a firearm in a school zone and carrying a concealed weapon when he appears in Monroe County Circuit Court.
The dog detected the gun and other hunting items during a routine search for drugs about 8:45 a.m. Thursday. No ammunition was found and no threat involved, police said.
Pegel has been suspended until the police investigation is over and the
school board makes a final decision as to what the next step should be, Superintendent Cindy Zahrte said. Expulsion must be considered per state statute, Zahrte said.
Zahrte said she isnt sure when the school board will meet, but Pegel is keeping up with school work at home.
We are going to make this as quick as possible, but we arent going to rush it, she said.
Students need to be aware where they keep hunting supplies so they dont inadvertently bring them onto school grounds, Zahrte said.
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