Sonoma Valley High School (Facebook June 2020)
How can the community put an end to Sonoma Valley High School’s “Fugitive Night?” That’s what Sonoma Police and the Sonoma Valley Unified School District are aiming to do. For years, hundreds of students have taken part in the unsanctioned event where seniors chase classmates from Ernie Smith Community Park to the dragon statue on the high school’s campus. During the chase, younger students must avoid getting hit by paintballs, eggs, Airsoft pellets and other objects. This year’s “Fugitive Night” in May caused thousands of dollars in damages which included broken windows and a mess of paintballs and eggs. It even extended to a nearby business where a front window at Boden’s Plumbing was destroyed. As a result, Sonoma Police and the school district will work together to prevent these hazings in the future.