GURNEE, Ill. -- A high school student accused of bringing nooses to school has been arrested by police on charges of "disrupting and alarming" other students.

Video: Nooses At School?

Curtis Hiett, 17, of the 900 block of Charles Avenue, was charged late Thursday with disorderly conduct. Earlier this week, he allegedly drove into a parking lot at Warren Township High School's Almond Road Campus with a Confederate flag and three nooses hanging from his vehicle.

Police began to investigate after school officials found some articles that apparently drove the point home.

Gurnee police were not made aware of the incident until Thursday morning, Deputy Chief Kevin Woodside said.

"He had a confederate flag and noose in his car on his rearview mirror fashioned out of a shoelace," said Dep. Kevin Woodside.

Police arrested the teen on Thursday without incident his home and charged him with disorderly conduct.

"We want safety first and foremost," said Woodside.

In announcing the arrest, Woodside said an investigation "revealed that behavior and a racially charged statement made by a single student caused a disruption within the school."

School officials would not comment on specifics of the incident. In a statement, administrators said they are familiar with what happened and have turned over the investigation to police.

"Since it is an ongoing investigation by the police department, district officials will not comment until the investigation is complete," the statement read.

The incident flew under the radar much of the week until the mother of a Warren junior who was offended by the incident contacted the school, police and local media.

A Park City woman, who requested that her name not be published to protect the identity of her daughter, said she was shocked to see such racism in Gurnee.

"It does make me uneasy and it makes my daughter uncomfortable," the woman said. "It's a sad case."

One of the witnesses to the incident contacted state Rep. Eddie Washington, D-Waukegan, who said the incident was inexcusable, particularly considering events in Jena, La.

Washington said one of his legislative aides is closely monitoring how the high school and Gurnee police handle the incident. Because racial matters are so sensitive, Washington said he wants to make sure the students at the school understand how serious Hiett's alleged actions are.

"(Students) know what a (noose) means," Washington said. "A picture of a hanging noose is very offensive. It's the same (to blacks) as a swastika is to the Jewish community."

Last December, six teenagers in Jena, La., were arrested after beating up a white student. That incident was apparently sparked by a series of racially charged incidents that began when nooses were hung under a tree at Jena High School. No action was taken against the teens thought to have hung the nooses. Last week, Jena became the center of national attention when thousands marched in support of the six teenagers.

Hiett's charge is a misdemeanor. Attempts to reach the Hiett home were unsuccessful Thursday evening.

Copyright 2007, Sun-Times News Group