PANA, Ill. (WAND) — The Pana Police Department provided an update to the investigation into a bullying incident that occurred at Pana High School.
A video circulating on social media, and shared with WAND News, appears to show students holding up another student to put their head in a toilet.
Pana police said that based on information disclosed in interviews, the incident happened around four or five weeks ago, but was brought to the attention of school staff on Friday. Police were first notified Saturday morning.
Pana Police Chief, Daniel Bland told WAND News that his department was taking the investigation seriously.
"We've ramped up police presence at the schools because we want the school faculty and students to feel safe," Bland said. "We meet with the school, the staff, even the students from junior high all through high school each year reminding them the consequences of bullying. Hopefully we'll have some closure for the victim, and accountability for this to not happen again."
Five students have been implicated in the incident in which a student was suspended over a toilet against his will. Pana police said that the victim had no contact with the toilet and received no visible injuries.
The department is collecting information including events leading up to the incident and will be presenting evidence to be considered by the state's attorney.
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