25 Chicago Kids Jailed After Food Fight

Twenty-five Chicago students ages 11 to 15 had to cool their heels in jail for 5 hours last week after a food fight at their school apparently got out of hand. The kids face charges of misdemeanor reckless conduct, NBC Chicago reports. Parents are angry that their kids were treated like criminals and worried that a rap sheet will affect college applications.

An on-campus police officer witnessed the fracas and called for a backup, resulting in a large police presence—and a large number of arrests. The incident was “unfortunate,” a school official tells the New York Times. Parents think that's an understatement. “They were handcuffed, slammed in a wagon, had their mug shots taken and treated like real criminals,” says one. Come on, “who hasn’t had a food fight?” (More food fight stories.)