Dudley, N.C. — A Wayne County teacher is fighting to get back in the classroom after a confrontation with a deputy over a pocket knife.
Anthony Williams was suspended with pay after being cited for having a weapon on campus, and for resisting a public officer.
Williams, a teacher at Southern Wayne High School, was carrying a pocket knife on school grounds. A deputy approached Williams during a school basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 16, officials said.
According to the sheriff’s office, the deputy asked Williams to move to a more private location and then questioned the teacher about the knife and asked him to hand it over.
“Mr. Williams did not comply,” a statement read, “which resulted in physical contact between Mr. Williams and the deputy.”
However, according to his lawyer, Williams, who is an earth science teacher, had permission from the school to use the knife in his classroom lab.
Williams has many supporters who rallied in his defense on Tuesday. He made no comment, but his lawyer and several current and former students spoke on his behalf, describing him as a role model.
“Mr. Williams has been unjustly suspended following a brutal attack,” says Habekah Cannon, the lawyer representing Williams.
“He’s a very amazing teacher,” said Alessandra Martinez. “He made a great impact on me.”
Security video obtained by WRAL News shows the encounter in the high school gym.
In the video, you can see the two men walking toward the double doors.
The release says they moved to an area that “gave Williams privacy while discussing this matter.”
A few seconds later, the men begin to scuffle.
Williams’ lawyer says the deputy put the teacher in a choke hold and a torso hold.
In the citation against Williams, Deputy Wood wrote, “As I attempted to get the knife from Mr. Williams, he pulled away several times and refused to let go of the knife.”
Williams’s wife says the incident has put her family through trauma.
“My 9-year-old daughter unfortunately witnessed the assault on her father. She is now dealing with anxiety, not wanting to be alone, and not wanting to leave her father’s side,” said his wife.
Williams is charged with having a weapon on school property and resisting a public officer.
A school district spokesman says Williams is suspended — with pay — which is standard when a teacher is criminally charged.
In another show of opposition to Williams’ suspension, students organized and walked out of their classrooms last Thursday. Williams is also a softball coach. He has taught at Southern Wayne since 2008.
In a statement released Tuesday, the district says it’s not taking any action against Williams until it can fully investigate what happened.
