Teen charged with assault after alleged fight

Police interviewed the defendant, who said the incident arose from racial slurs, but he reportedly could not determine the nature of the alleged remarks and said they were third-hand information.

Asotin Police Chief Monte Renzelman spoke to the boy about dealing with racial offenses and said violence was not an appropriate response. Reporting to school management and other authorities is the right way to deal with this, the principal said.

One of the boys interviewed said no racist comments were made about the defendant at school. However, children have spoken about him falling asleep and snoring in class, which may have sparked the argument.

In addition to the legal charges, school discipline was imposed following the incident, according to the report.

Fourth-degree assault is listed as a gross misdemeanor. Assistant District Attorney Matt Newberg is handling the case on behalf of Asotin County, and an attorney will be appointed for the juvenile when he appears before Judge Brooke Burns on October 21 at 1:30 p.m.