Police officers attacked at middle school carnival

MORGAN HILL >> A carnival at a middle school descended into violent anarchy Friday night when officers tried to arrest a boy who had allegedly given a knife to another attendee, police said.

Shortly before 6 p.m., Britton Middle School officials told two uniformed Morgan Hill police officers assigned to the Home and School Club Carnival that a boy at the event had a knife.

Officers arrested the boy without the incident. They then identified the boy who had given him the knife and learned he had been involved in a disturbance at the school earlier in the day and was asked to leave, police said.

When officers approached him, he allegedly got into a fighting stance and threatened to hurt the officers.

The officers called for backup. Police said the officers were attacked by the boy and two other juveniles when they went to arrest him. The officers were not seriously injured.

Meanwhile, a crowd of more than 200 individuals gathered at the scene. Several of them allegedly confronted the officers and refused to disperse. As a result, even more officers were called to the scene for a total of 59.

Officers arrested eight juveniles and booked them into Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall on charges including possession of a knife on school grounds, assault on an officer, felonious threats on officers, inciting a riot and resisting, delaying or obstructing an officer.

Police said the juveniles who were arrested displayed gang signs and shouted gang slogans during the incident. They were also allegedly dressed in gang clothing.

The carnival was scheduled to run through today but has since been canceled as a result of the incident, police said.