Felony charges have been dropped for the Whitehall High School students who were removed from a Jan. 28 WHS basketball game by police, after officers were called to control what they called “disruptive” behavior, according to recent reports.

A juvenile court hearing was held Feb. 12 before Lehigh County Judge Kelly Banach, who dropped the felony charges of inciting a riot.

According to reports, the juveniles are also charged with defiant trespass, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstruction of the administration of the law - all misdemeanors.

Two WHS boys basketball games were canceled Jan. 28 after the students reportedly became disruptive and police were called, according to an earlier statement released by Whitehall-Coplay School District.

According to Dr. Lorie Hackett, superintendent of WCSD, “The information we have at this time indicates the school district’s athletic director, in maintaining safety, acted appropriately in asking students to leave an unsupervised area in the high school during the basketball game.

“After several unsuccessful attempts to get the students to leave the unsupervised area and return to the gym, they were then asked to leave the event,” Hackett said.

Whitehall Township police officers were then asked to assist. The juveniles refused numerous requests by officers to leave, police said. When officers attempted to take the juveniles into custody, they were surrounded by other juveniles who “physically attempted to block the officers from a lawful arrest,” according to Whitehall Police Lt. Gregory Bealer.

Officers from multiple agencies responded to assist in controlling the area.

Bealer said the four juveniles were then taken into custody.

According to a statement released by Hackett, “The primary goal of the district is to ensure safety for our students and school community at all of our events. Moving forward, school district officials will determine if any changes in facilities or protocols are necessary in order to continue to maintain a safe and secure environment, which is the number one priority of the district.”

A representative of Lehigh Valley Stands Up addressed Whitehall-Coplay School Board at the Feb. 10 meeting and suggested the members attend the Feb. 12 hearing.

“I’d just like to encourage you all to stand with the students, especially as they’re going through a really scary time, and to show up for them in court at the Lehigh County Courthouse,” the representative told board members.