MESA, AZ – The Mesa Police Department is warning the public that an upcoming monthly TikTok School Challenge, “Smack a staff member on the backside” is “very concerning.”
“No matter how innocent you may think a smack on the backside of a school staff member is…it is not! It is the crime of Aggravated Assault, a felony,” advised Mesa Police in a blog post. “Not only can you be seriously disciplined by your school, but you can be charged and arrested for a serious criminal offense. If you want to check it out for yourself the law is called Aggravated Assault, ARS 13-1204.A8(d). It can be found at https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/01204.htm.”
The Department is reminding the public – particularly students that “if someone knowingly assaults a teacher or other person employed by any school while they are performing their official duties, they just committed an aggravated assault. And yes, a smack on the back side would be considered an aggravated assault that would be investigated by the Mesa Police Department. So, if you want some common-sense advice from the Mesa Police Department that advice is “Don’t do it.”
According to WJHG, “September’s Tik Tok challenge was all about students vandalizing bathrooms and destroying school property.”