Tindal: Student suspended for knife incident, pending expulsion hearing

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Clarendon School District 2 Superintendent John Tindal said a 19-year-old Manning High School student arrested Wednesday after a knife incident at the school has been suspended pending an expulsion hearing. "We have up to 10 days from the date of the incident to have that hearing," Tindal said late Wednesday afternoon. Maj. Kipp Coker of the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office said Desmond Raquan Lawson was charged with second-degree assault and possession of a weapon on school grounds about 11:39 a.m. Wednesday after students told school resource officers there was an individual with a steak knife "running at students." “TASERs were deployed, and one hit him in the pants leg, but never made contact with the skin,” Coker said. “The suspect ultimately dropped the knife and was taken into custody.” No one was injured in the incident. Tindal said Clarendon 2 has a no tolerance policy toward weapons. He will recommend expulsion to the board.