18-year-old detained for 8th grade graduation assault

A second person has been detained following an altercation at a central Toledo school’s eighth-grade graduation ceremony at the end of last month.

Police took into custody 18-year-old Kaiden Craig on Wednesday afternoon for an incident at Pickett Academy on Blum Street on May 27.

According to a police affidavit filed in Toledo Municipal Court, Craig struck an unspecified victim “blindly from behind and continued punching and kicking him as he fell to the ground” at the school around 11 a.m. According to reports, Craig assaulted another person during the incident.

Police claim they used security video to investigate the assault.

An earlier police report from the same incident identified an 11-year-old as the victim of an assault and an 18-year-old as the suspect. According to the account, family members on both sides were involved, and several people began fighting.

Craig was accused of assaulting a teacher and disturbing school activities.

Craig’s court appearance date is unknown at this time.

The victims’ identification is unclear.

James Ballard, 20, was arrested for disorderly conduct and later released.

Toledo Public Schools released a statement after the incident praising Toledo police and members of the district’s Department of Public Safety.

“Toledo Public Schools’ top priority is the safety of its students, families, and staff members. While disappointing, this incident does not reflect the positive accomplishments and hard work of the students who were celebrated this morning.”