A high school prank involving toilet paper took a serious turn early Monday, one that resulted in a teen hurt and a local fire official charged.
Hendersonville Fire Division Chief Jamie Cossler, 58, was charged with aggravated assault after putting a 16-year-old girl in a chokehold, WZTV reported.
Cossler submitted his retirement papers the same day, reports indicated.
Video showed he grabbed the girl after she and other students tried to prank his property with toilet paper and flour. Other students were unsuccessful in their attempts to free her.
The "Class Wars" pranks have been around for more than 20 years.
Police wrote in their report that the girl told them she nearly lost consciousness during the incident. Bruises were oberved on her neck and leg.
The girl's father said warnings from police and school officials to students to stop the annual pranks came after the incident.
“They didn’t bring any of this up until he was arrested. Now they’re posting about kids doing all these bad things when the class wars have been going on for 20-plus years,” he said. “They haven’t mentioned one time a county employee who put his hands on a 16-year-old daughter.”
Gallatin Police, who said they have been investigating “Class Wars” incidents for weeks, arrested eight juveniles.
