B URTONSVILLE, Md. October 16 2019 Two assistant principals were injured while trying to break up a large fight during a recent Friday evening football game at Paint Branch High School.

The September 20 brawl happened during the Paint Branch versus Springbrook varsity football game and became so unruly, backup was requested from Silver Spring, Wheaton, and Maryland-National Capital Park Police. That’s in addition to the eight Montgomery County officers and a number of school security guards already assigned to cover the athletic event.

According to court documents, around 8:50 p.m., assistant principals Ricardo Hernandez and Tracy Pettis-Jones spotted two girls in a physical altercation on the grassy knoll located between the bleachers and concession stand. The football game was in the fourth quarter at the time.

A large crowd of rowdy onlookers began to form as Assistant Principals Hernandez and Pettis-Jones grabbed hold of the two young women in an attempt to defuse the situation.

18yo Myla Abanda is charged with disturbing school operations, disorderly conduct + possession of alcohol on school property.

A male assistant principal injured his lower back and was clocked in the head at least three times.

A male security guard injured his right thumb and shoulder, plus broke his Casio watch.

“Security guard David Newsome noticed that the suspects were still interlocked with each other and actively fighting,” police later wrote in their narrative of events. “Newsome joined in to assist with breaking up the fight at which time everyone was taken to the ground. While the fight was taking place, debris, such as bottles, were being thrown from the bleachers.”

During the melee, Assistant Principal Pettis-Jones’ injured her neck, back, and knees, plus had her hair pulled. Assistant Principal Hernandez injured his lower back and was clocked in the head at least three times. Security guard Newsome injured his right thumb and shoulder and broke his Casio watch.

When the Montgomery County officers assigned to the game made it to the impromptu mosh pit, the crowd overtook them too.

“Off-duty 2373! Start us some units to Paint Branch! Large fight!” a male officer shouted into his portable radio. “Let them know we are getting hit with bottles and cans from the top of the stands! Just tell the officers to be careful!”

Police ultimately took Myla Abanda, 18, of the 1500 block of Heather Hollow Circle in Silver Spring, and a juvenile girl into custody. Abanda is charged with disturbing school operations, disorderly conduct, affray and possession of alcohol on school property. It is unclear what charges if any, the juvenile girl is currently facing.

Police say the disagreement was over a boy that Abanda’s cousin and the juvenile girl were both romantically interested in. That initial fight prompted numerous other skirmishes to flare up on the Paint Branch campus, and later off campus too.

“As a result of the chaos, the football game was called early,” police further wrote in their narrative.

Reached by phone, Abanda told me she has not yet obtained a defense attorney, but plans to fight the charges.

“I think the police just charged me because I’m older.”

Reached by telephone Sunday evening, Abanda explained that she has not yet obtained a defense attorney, but plans to fight the charges.

“I feel like this is wrong because the other girl and her friends attacked me,” Abanda stated. “I think the police just charged me because I’m older.”

Abanda is scheduled to return to Montgomery County District Court for a trial on November 4. She faces up to eight months in jail.

ABC7

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