Six Vicksburg High School students were arrested Monday following a fight on campus that saw multiple cruisers respond and pepper spray used to subdue at least two of the students.

“It happened right at dismissal, as kids were in the hallways, and that’s one of the things that made it so difficult because the kids were surrounded,” said Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Swinford. “If it’s a major disruption, we do call police and have them arrested.”

The fight started in a hallway and spilled onto the east and west sides of the campus, on Drummond Street and Confederate Avenue, said police Chief Walter Armstrong. Vicksburg Warren School District police officer Dewayne Sims also responded to assist several unidentified school staff.

“It’s unclear exactly how it started,” said Capt. Bobby Stewart. “Apparently they were walking down the hallway, got into an argument and then it became a fight.”

VHS school resource officer David Gladney used pepper spray to subdue some of the students after officials had trouble reaching the ones who were fighting, Swinford said. “He had to do it and I support him in that,” she said.

Later, an ambulance was called so students’ eyes could be rinsed out, said Sgt. Larry Burns of the Vicksburg Police Department.

Swinford said the fight was the result of a “girl-boy thing,” and some parents and students knew about it.

“It was a fight that could have been avoided. Once again we have problems from outside in the community that did not get solved brought into the schools,” she said. “People knew about it and did not give us the courtesy of letting us know. I am very upset that I have to suspend and incarcerate six children during the week of (midterm) exams.”

The five boys and one girl were charged with disorderly conduct by fighting, said Stewart. They were taken to the Juvenile Detention Center, where they remained this morning.

The legal cases will be turned over to the Warren County Youth Court. Penalties could range from probation or counseling to being sent to a training school if a youth has a record, said Stewart.

Each also faces a nine-day suspension from school, Swinford said.

No serious injuries were reported.

Swinford said the schools have put into place peer mediation and other counseling methods to help students resolve conflicts without fighting.

Students and parents can inform officials anonymously by writing a note and slipping it under a door or onto a desk, she said.

An anonymous online message system has also been set up on the district’s Project SYNC website, accessible at www.vwsd.k12.ms.us/sync/.