An Augusta mother is among at least four people arrested Tuesday morning in a series of fights that disrupted classes and led to a lockdown at Butler High School.
Nicole Diane Lee, 38, and her daughter, Le’Neidra Williams, 18, were both charged with disrupting classes.
Authorities say the pair entered Butler and began walking the hallway, using abusive and threatening language which resulted in agitating students during an ongoing disturbance.
The mother allegedly attempted to enter a locked area of the school even while a resource officer tried to stop her, authorities said. Lee pulled the door and walked past the officer into the high school, which caused the school to be placed on lockdown.
Lee was allegedly using abusive language and upset students. The officer ultimately placed the parent in cuffs and detained her as well as the daughter. Authorities say Lee’s behavior added several minutes to the disruption and delayed school officials in getting the situation under control.
Several fights broke out in the hallway and in classrooms, with students shown on video stomping on a victim on the ground and others punching at school officials. A juvenile male victim did not suffer visible injuries, authorities said.
Malik Brooks, 17, and Nehemiah Wallas, 18, were both charged with simple battery and disrupting school. They allegedly beat a victim with their hands and fists in the classroom, a fight that spilled out into the hallway. A mugshot of Wallas was not immediately available.
Principal Bernard Chatman told parents in a letter that a group of students engaged in a fight during the transition from breakfast to class. He did not mention the parent’s criminal act.
“Administrators and School Safety and Security responded immediately and the students involved were sent home,” Dr. Chatman said. “The incident is being addressed following the Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.”
For her part, Nicole Lee has been in trouble before with at least one previous arrest and multiple traffic offenses. In 2019, she was accused of driving with an open container with three unrestrained children in her car. She also had improper registration and had ignored a traffic control device, according to online records.
