CHAMPAIGN — A Champaign mother and daughter were arrested Wednesday afternoon at a Champaign middle school following an attack on a student.

Champaign police Sgt. Jim Rein said one female student, assisted by her mother, battered another student inside Edison Middle School, 306 W. Green St., about 1:30 p.m.

State’s Attorney Julia Rietz said Dishimi Brown, 33, of the 200 block of West Green Street, has been charged with aggravated battery and contributing to the juvenile delinquency of a minor. Because of prior convictions for delivery of a controlled substance and deceptive practices, Brown faces an extended punishment if convicted of the charges.

Brown’s 13-year-old daughter was arrested for aggravated battery and mob action, Rein said.
Rein said there was apparently an ongoing dispute between Brown’s daughter and the victim, also 13. Brown, accompanied by her 15-year-old son, came into the building and went directly to the third floor without checking in at the office.

“A student asks Brown if she’s looking for her daughter and points to where the daughter is. A couple minutes later, Brown and (her daughter) ... engage in a fight with the victim. Mom is standing there encouraging her daughter to fight the victim and at one point grabs the victim by the hair and tries to pick her up,” Rein said.

Rietz said Brown told police her daughter had called her to tell her that someone wanted to fight.  Brown told police she was going to the school to talk to school officials. However, she apparently did not do that.

Principal Carmela David said all parents of students are admitted to the building through secure entrances.

“The procedure is for parents to report immediately (to the office.) She chose not to,” said David.
Rein and Rietz said school officials were unaware of Brown’s presence on the third floor.

Rein said the victim sustained a swollen left eye and small cuts around her eye from the beating.

Rietz said Brown’s daughter was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center after the incident and released to her grandmother. Rietz said she was waiting for reports on the daughter’s history before deciding what charges to file against her.