By DAVID COLBURN

News editor

Multiple children at Marion Elementary School were taken into protective custody by sheriff’s deputies Tuesday after school officials contacted Marion police.

“There was a staff concern over a child’s well-being,” principal Justin Wasmuth said. “We felt like we needed to call the local authorities, being mandated reporters, and we thought that was the right avenue to go in this situation.”

School personnel are legally required to report suspected child abuse or neglect to authorities.

Sheriff Robert Craft confirmed that deputies stepped in at the request of Marion police, and said one deputy initially responded to the school.

“When he went he discovered enough to take more than one child into protective custody,” Craft said. “Two deputies are now taking the kids for further investigation.”

Craft declined to say how many children were involved, what factors led to taking them into protective custody, or whether the children’s parents had been contacted.

“I haven’t been there, I haven’t seen them,” he said. “Until I know more about what’s going on, that’s about all I can say. The deputies are doing what they need to do and once they make a determination of what we have, we’ll know more.”

Craft said he could not speculate on possible charges, as the investigation was initiated after the children were taken into custody.