YOUNGSTOWN - The Youngstown City School District (YCSD) has issued a response to reports of several fights that police said took place at a basketball game between East High School and Chaney High School on Tuesday.

A police report from the Youngstown Police Department states that before the dismissal of the game, a small fight broke out and officers had to use pepper spray to break it up.

Police said they were called back to the school later when several more fights broke out outside after the game, with several agencies, including Campbell, Struthers and the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office all assisting.

A letter sent to families by YCSD Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor states that no fights occurred during the game itself, and that most of those involved in the fights were not students or people who had been admitted into the event.

"We want to be clear that for any YSCD scholars involved, immediate action was taken within 24 hours. The district has a Code of Excellence; we hold our scholars to high standards, and accountability is a core part of our culture," Batchelor wrote.

Moving forward, Batcherlor says the district will reevaluate its safety plans and ask those not admitted to school events to vacate the property.

"We will enforce this expectation and, when necessary, will pursue appropriate processes, including issuing trespassing citations, to ensure the safety of our community," Batchelor wrote.

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