Felony charges dropped against two teens accused of assaulting Quakertown police chief, lawyers say
The borough has been embroiled in controversy since Feb. 20, when students from Quakertown Community High School participated in a walkout to protest federal immigration enforcement.
Felony charges have been withdrawn against two teenagers accused of assaulting the Quakertown police chief during an anti-ICE protest by high school students in February, their attorneys said.
The teens — two 15-year-old girls — still face lesser charges of simple assault and disorderly conduct.
Police charged five teenagers with aggravated assault following the Feb. 20 melee. According to an affidavit of probable cause for their arrests, the teens obstructed traffic, struck vehicles, and assaulted Police Chief Scott McElree as he tried to take one of the teens into custody.
McElree sought medical treatment for undisclosed injuries, according to the affidavit, and took a workers’ compensation leave within days of the brawl.
An attorney for the borough said McElree remained on leave as of Wednesday . McElree, 72, also serves as the borough’s manager.
Attorneys for the students have adamantly denied the police account, saying the teenagers — not McElree — were the victims of assault. A widely circulated video captured during the confrontation shows McElree, dressed in plain clothes, place one of the teenagers in a chokehold. In another video, McElree can be seen grappling with a teenager on the ground.
Last month, a 16-year-old boy charged in the incident agreed to enter a diversion program. In exchange, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting the case, withdrew the felony charges against him.
The district attorney’s office withdrew the felony charges against the two 15-year-old girls on April 7 and Tuesday, respectively, according to their attorneys. Two remaining teens still face charges of aggravated assault.
Timothy Prendergast, a lawyer for one of the girls, said he expects his client’s case to proceed to trial next month on the misdemeanor charges, unless those, too, are dropped. “I don’t believe she engaged in any criminal behavior,” he said.
The Quakertown Community High School students were participating in a walkout to protest federal immigration enforcement.
The district attorney’s office is investigating the incident, including McElree’s role.
McElree claims he identified himself as a police officer to the teens, but Predergast disputes that.
“None of these kids knew who this guy was,” Prendergast said.
