Yup, the kid was peaceful and non-threatening? A near riot?
Follow the train of events Jake. This is the statement of the Chief of Police (who was not even there) justifying the arrest of the boy to the main stream media for "disrupting the school process". It occured in the immediate aftermath of the incident and before any charges were filed.
So, an investigation took place and they have now charged the 14 year old boy with a crime, but what crime and what does the charging instrument allege?
He is not charged with disrupting the school process. Why?
He is not charged with causing a riot. Why?
What he was charged with was "obstructing an officer"... not "obstructing an officer with force" or not even with "obstructing an officer with threats" which would be aggrivating circumstances which need to be alleged in charging instrument. The charging instrument merely alleges that he "kept talking" and that this somehow obstructed an officer... usually the police want you to talk, but that is merely an aside.
The school subsequently reinstated the boy after one day suspension... which would seem somewhat odd if he had caused such a severe disruption to the school as a "near riot".
So what do we have here?
IMHO, a police dept and school which desperately wants to avoid a suit for civil damages which might expose them to huge liability and they are hoping that they can use the threat of criminal prosecution as leverage to eliminate civil liability... in other words...
PSST... Kid... you agree not to sue and we will drop all charges 