Police Submit ‘Flag’ Burning

Investigation to Prosecutor

By Andrew Gorosko

Police this week submitted their investigation into the March burning of a painted canvas stage prop, which resembled a French flag, to the Danbury state’s attorney’s office for a review of whether criminal charges would be pressed in the case.

Three Newtown High School students were suspended from class for a week after they took an international signal flag, which was created for the spring musical Anything Goes, and then burned it on the sidewalk outside the school’s main entrance of the afternoon of March 18. The prop resembled the tricolor blue-white-red design of a French flag.

One of the youths involved in the incident, who reportedly has a brother serving overseas in military, was annoyed by the presence of the prop on the school’s stage, due to France’s failure to support the United States in its war with Iraq.

“Our investigation is complete,” Detective Sergeant Robert Tvardzik said. Two youths, who took part in the high school incident, have been the focus of the police investigation, he said. Det Sgt Tvardzik declined to identify the youths involved in the incident.

Detective Jason Frank, who was the school resource officer for Newtown High School at the time of the incident, investigated the case.

Police should know soon whether the prosecutor at Danbury Superior Court would seek charges in the case, Det Sgt Tvardzik said.

In such cases, a prosecutor reviews the facts of a situation, as they are presented in an investigatory report by police, and determines whether any laws were broken, and if so, whether the matter warrants charges being filed. If the prosecutor decides to pursue charges, he submits the matter to a judge for review. If a judge agrees to pursue charges, arrest warrants would be issued, which police would then serve against the people accused of criminal wrongdoing.

Following the March incident, School Superintendent Evan Pitkoff said, “It’s being treated as a serious matter because it caused a hazardous situation ... The students created a dangerous situation. Our concern in this matter was the safety of children. I don’t think this was appropriate for a school situation, regardless of people’s political beliefs.”

After the incident, high school principal William Manfredonia said, “The issue we dealt with was starting a fire on school grounds and jeopardizing student safety … There is no way I would allow anyone to start a fire on school property and justify it. This was inappropriate.”

The three students who were suspended were given time to make up their missed schoolwork during their weeklong suspensions, as required by state law.