The Harrison-Morton Middle School principal placed on leave after an incident this month at an Allentown park is accused of kicking the window out of a police vehicle.
Stephanie Williams, 39, was acting erratically and harassing people Sept. 13 at Buck Boyle Park, city police said Wednesday in a news release. She faces two summary nontraffic citations, police said.
Officers were called to the park about 5 p.m. for a report of a disturbance there. Several people were there for a neighborhood event, and they told officers that Williams was acting erratically and yelling at people, including children, the release states.
Videos posted on social media of Williams showed her seemingly out of breath and acting erratically at the park. At one point in the video she could be seen rolling around on the ground.
Police told her that her behavior was concerning others, and that she was not welcome at the event. Officers began walking her and her child to the parking lot, and she became “confrontational,” the department said.
She was placed in the police vehicle while officers looked for family members to take care of her child, and she kicked the vehicle’s window out while that was happening, the release states.
Williams was taken to police headquarters, where police said she continued to exhibit “inexplicable” behavior. Concerned for her safety, officers took her to a nearby hospital for an evaluation.
After reviewing body cameras and videos posted online and consulting with the Lehigh County district attorney’s office, investigators filed summary citations against Williams for disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. The district court where the citations were filed did not have paperwork for the alleged offenses Wednesday afternoon.
The district said in a letter to families after the incident that Williams was placed on paid leave. Arcelius Brickhouse, the district’s executive director of instructional leadership, is serving as acting principal.
The district was not able to give additional information because it is a personnel matter. Williams, who was appointed in July with a salary of $140,000, had been a teacher and school leader in Philadelphia.
In a statement Wednesday, the district said Williams remains on leave and “is currently utilizing her accrued paid time off,” but was otherwise unable to comment on the matter while it is under review.
“The matter is being handled directly by law enforcement,” the statement read in part. “As this is a confidential personnel matter, and out of respect for the ongoing legal process, the district is unable to share additional details at this time. Our focus remains on supporting the students, staff, and families of Harrison-Morton Middle School and ensuring a strong, safe, and successful school year.”
