Disruption at Wisconsin High School Graduation Prompts Investigation and Restraining Order
ICARO Media Group
In an unexpected turn of events, a Wisconsin high school graduation ceremony was disrupted when Matthew Eddy stormed the stage and prevented the superintendent, Rainey Briggs, from shaking hands with his own daughter. Eddy's actions were fueled by his disdain for Briggs, according to a police report obtained by local authorities.
The incident unfolded last Friday night at Baraboo High School, where administrators were greeting graduates as they received their diplomas. Eddy deliberately approached Briggs, physically blocking him from interacting with his daughter. Although Eddy confessed to having "past issues" with the superintendent, he did not specify how exactly he prevented them from interacting, leaving the details vague.
When questioned by a school resource officer, Eddy expressed remorse for his actions but clarified that it was solely for the sake of his daughter. This led the officer to suspect that Eddy may have pre-planned the disruption. The police report also revealed that Briggs left the school grounds immediately after the ceremony.
In response to the incident, Briggs contacted the authorities and revealed his plan to obtain a restraining order against Eddy. The temporary order, granted earlier this week in Dane County Circuit Court, prohibits Eddy from having any contact with Briggs. A hearing is scheduled for June 14th.
Briggs, in his petition for the restraining order, recounted his version of events. He claimed that Eddy swiftly approached the stage, forcefully putting his hands on Briggs while stating, "you are not going to touch my f------ daughter." Briggs managed to create space between them and instructed Eddy to remove his hands, but Eddy continued to push and pry at the superintendent, prompting him to defend himself by keeping Eddy at bay.
The police report also highlighted that Briggs had been subjected to numerous threats in his role as superintendent. However, it did not provide further information about the nature of these threats.
Video footage capturing the incident quickly went viral after being shared online. Surprisingly, despite the presence of four school board members and the school's principal on stage, Eddy solely confronted Briggs.
In response to the disruptive episode, the Baraboo School District has taken the matter seriously and is working closely with local law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation. The school board released a statement condemning such behavior and reaffirming their strong stance against engaging in threatening or intimidating actions within the school community.
As the investigation progresses, the community of Baraboo eagerly awaits answers, hoping to understand the motive behind Eddy's disruptive actions and seeking a resolution to prevent future incidents that undermine the integrity of graduation ceremonies.