14 DAY TRIAL // A student in Taylor, Michigan, has brought a small fortune to school, and nobody seems to know how she has come in possession of the money.
The 12-year-old student, whose name has not been released at this point, showed up at the local 6th Grade Academy with $20k (€15.4k) in cash.
According to a statement by Taylor Police Chief Mary Sclabassi, relayed by Click on Detroit, she had "large bills, $100 (€77) bills" in her backpack.
Sclabassi described that the school principal found out about the fact that she had the large amount of cash on her because she was spreading it around. Students received hundreds of dollars from their giving classmate, some being awarded $500 (€385).
"The principal became aware of this when the girl started distributing some of the cash to some fellow students. As high as $500 (€385) to some students. Some got as much as $200 (€154)," the Police Chief details.
Taylor School District assistant superintendent Teresa D. Winnie has put out a statement stressing that the children have not been in danger in any way as a result of the incident.
"The situation that took place at the Sixth Grade Academy Building was truly an unusual one. We do not have a specific protocol for this type of situation. There was no threat to the student body in the building and the matter is currently in the hands of the Taylor Police Department," Winnie says.
Officials are investigating how the child ended up with the money, and they are asking the girl's family what they know about it.
"We're talking with the family about how this happened and we're glad that this ended safely for her and that it was retrieved," Sclabassi notes.
"Had word gotten out to maybe someone other than some other 12-year-olds, it could have put her in a dangerous position," she adds.