Video: Bethel HS student arrested after noose is found

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PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. – Pierce County deputies Tuesday arrested an 18-year-old Bethel High School student for placing a noose on school grounds -- the second such noose found recently on a campus dealing with a rise in racial tension and threats of violence.

The noose was found Monday. The student has been booked on charges of malicious harassment, possession of a knife and drug paraphernalia.

Tanner Smith stayed home from school Tuesday, fearful of the threats of violence swirling around the school.

"I feel unsafe but it's a confusing feeling to me. I don't know how to take this," said Smith.

On campus, school officials are warning students about what they term an unsubstantiated threat against the school on Wednesday.  It's the second such threat in three weeks.

Tanner's parents feel like they're not getting the whole story from the school district.

"It's been escalating for about a month.  Every week, it gets worse and worse," said Sharmane Smith.

School officials hope parents understand that they're providing as much information as possible on their Web site and through phone calls.

"It's difficult because a lot of this information is under investigation, but as soon as we're able to confirm facts, we're giving that to parents," said Mark Wenzel, Bethel School District

Racially-fueled violence started two weeks ago when a black girl bumped into a white boy in the hallway, after which he told her to "go back where she came from."

The incident sparked a fight between black and white students in a school hallway later that day, and then another fight inside a classroom the next day. But what pushed things over the edge was the first noose found outside the school cafeteria.

Rumors that there would be a revenge shooting at Bethel High prompted hundreds of students to stay home from school two weeks ago.

Students – black and white – say it's a small segment of the school causing the problems, but it's a reality that students need to confront.

"I don't think they understand how serious this is. I think it's like a high school prank to them, honestly. People are getting hurt and it's not okay to hurt other people," said student Val Douglas.

School officials are planning to bring people into the school to talk about race issues with the entire student body.