Charges under review for juvenile male in connection with Hidden Oaks arson

Prior Lake American

The Scott County Attorney’s Office is reviewing charges against a middle school-age boy in connection with an arson at Hidden Oaks Middle School in Prior Lake on Oct. 30, Prior Lake Police Chief Mark Elliott said.

The suspect’s name and exact age were not released by authorities because he is a juvenile.

The Minnesota State Fire Marshal and the Prior Lake Police Department are investigating the arson, which caused a morning evacuation of students and staff at the school.

Burned paper material were found in a boy’s bathroom, Elliott said. Prior Lake Fire Chief Rick Steinhaus said there was heat and smoke damage in a bathroom near the sixth grade area but no damage outside the bathroom.

The evacuation of students and staff happened around 8 a.m. All students and staff returned to class about an hour later, and no injuries were reported.

The Prior Lake Fire Department responded to the incident and had to clear the sixth grade area of smoke.

Most juvenile court cases are not open to the public “except for serious crimes committed by children over the age of 16,” according to the Minnesota Judicial Branch website.