UPDATE: Assistant Principal Won’t Face Felony Obstruction Charges Following School Fight
This story was updated Feb. 6 to include a statement from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
An administrator at a Golden Valley school who police accuse of obstructing an investigation will not face felony charges.
Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green told CCX News on Feb. 5 that the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has declined to charge Robbinsdale Academy-Highview Assistant Principal Patrick Burrage with a felony.
In lieu of felony charges, the Golden Valley city prosecutor is reviewing the case for potential misdemeanor obstruction charges.
Green expects to hear the prosecutor’s decision within the next several days.
A pair of brass knuckles police say they recovered from Robbinsdale Academy-Highview after a fight.
Statement from Attorney’s Office
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office issued the following statement on the decision:
“After careful review of this matter, including review of body camera video, it was determined that felony charges are not appropriate. Additionally, Mr. Burrage’s actions did not prevent charges from moving forward on the youth who was involved in the underlying assault.
Strong partnerships with schools are critical to our shared goal of improving community safety. School officials have inherent authority to discipline pursuant to school policies and likely regularly encounter contraband. Felony charges in this situation would have a dramatic chilling effect on school officials’ willingness to report to law enforcement or to intervene when contraband is found.
Long-term public safety is likely best served by engaging in conversation with the school district as a system partner to better establish expectations moving forward.”
Accusations from Police
Green previously told CCX News that the Golden Valley Police Department responded to a report of a fight involving brass knuckles at Highview in November 2024.
Officers spoke to Burrage, who Green says was uncooperative — allegedly telling officers he didn’t know if brass knuckles were involved or where they were.
“When we got there, there was a lot of confusion as to where the students were at, where the brass knuckles were at,” Green said. “We really didn’t get a lot of cooperation … that was a real concern to them because it was really hindering us from gathering more information, doing some of that basic investigation.”
After unsuccessful attempts to interview the teachers that broke up the fight, law enforcement officials obtained a warrant to search the school for the weapon.
“When we did, our detectives met with [Burrage],” Green said. “He pulled the brass knuckles out of his desk and said ‘oh, hey, here they are.’ There were some questions asked of him — how did he come in possession of those brass knuckles? He really didn’t give a good answer other than, ‘let’s just go and say I found them in the bathroom.'”
City prosecutors and attorneys felt that Burrage’s actions constituted felony obstruction. Upon review, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office disagreed.
District Statement
A spokesperson for Robbinsdale Area Schools sent CCX News the following statement related to the incident on Jan. 28:
“We have conducted a thorough investigation and taken appropriate action. Principals are subject to a collective bargaining agreement and at this time there is no public data regarding any action taken by the district against any employees related to this matter.”
