Moses Lake concludes investigation

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Police and Moses Lake School District concluded a student did not have his hair set on fire March 4.

Officials and police interviewed students from the bus, the bus driver and reviewed a security tape from a camera installed on the school bus before determining the assault against the teenager did not occur, according to Moses Lake School Superintendent Steve Chestnut.

Scott Hagy told the Columbia Basin Herald his 15-year-old son's hair was set on fire by another student, singeing about a handful of the boy's long hair.

He and his wife Janis Hagy claim their son is bullied at school due to having Asperger syndrome.

The syndrome is characterized by a person having trouble with social interactions and is often accompanied by repetitive behavior patterns.

In a police report provided to the Columbia Basin Herald Wednesday, police officer and school resource officer Ramon Lopez wrote the complaint was unfounded and there was no evidence of the student's hair being set on fire.

"Witnesses who sat near the victim and alleged suspect reported that nothing happened," according to the report.

The student accused of assaulting Hagy's son was found to be carrying a lighter, according to Chestnut.

"I have talked to the parents of the boy who had the lighter," Chestnut stated. "They believe that their son was wrong for having a lighter on the bus. He has received consequences at home."

Chestnut said the district allows the bus garage officials to investigate and implement punishment for bad behavior on buses, but added the district officials are always involved with matters of discipline.

District officials involve police when they are alerted to assaults between students, according to Chestnut.

"We always take bullying allegations very seriously," Chestnut stated. "We will continue to work with Mr. Hagy if he has concerns about his son being bullied. High school administrators will follow up with Mr. Hagy in the next few days to make sure that all of his concerns are addressed."