Warren student's racial comments directed at blacks

Racially charged comments about blacks made by a white teenager at Warren Township High School's upperclassmen campus resulted in his arrest, police said, because he alarmed two students.

Part of Curtis Hiett's behavior included driving to the Almond Road building earlier this week with a noose hanging from his rear-view mirror and a Confederate flag displayed inside the vehicle, said Gurnee Deputy Police Chief Kevin Woodside. He was unable to describe the size of the noose.

However, Woodside said today, it was Hiett's comments about blacks -- not what was in the vehicle -- that resulted in a disorderly conduct charge Thursday.

Police said Hiett, 17, of 979 Charles Ave., Gurnee, was arrested at his home. The disorderly conduct charge is a misdemeanor.

Hiett, whose parents couldn't be reached for comment this morning, is accused of behaving inappropriately at the Almond Road campus and alarming and disturbing two girls since the academic year began.

He was arrested after Warren Township High School District 121 officials contacted police Thursday because of comments he made and the contents of his vehicle, Woodside said.

Read more in Saturday's Daily Herald.