A school meeting escalated to violence Thursday when a member of the board of education was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer.
Board Member Walter Hudson, 33, was at Penns Grove Middle School as several youth basketball teams were being dismissed.
A large group of teens had gathered on school grounds, prompting officials to call police to break up the crowd.
But Penns Grove Borough Councilman Carl Washington said Hudson interfered with the officers as they tried to manage the throng of people.
Police say they warned Hudson to back off, but he didn't listen. Instead he shoved the cop to the ground and punched him, according to witnesses at the scene.
"The officer advised him he was going to be arrested and that's when the altercation happened," said Penns Grove Police Chief Gary Doubledee, who added the assault victim was hospitalized with a bruised shoulder and had to be sedated.
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Parents say Hudson had been an outspoken board member in the past, but that Thursday’s event is one that deeply concerns them.
Susan Wolfer, a mother of two, is one of those worried parents.
“Unfortunately I wasn’t surprised by it at all, but I’m disgusted by it,” she said.
Parents say they want an investigation by the Board. They, along with Councilman Washington, expect better moral judgment for the leaders guiding their youth.
"Justice should be served," Washington said. "Whatever needs to be done, right is right, wrong is wrong."
The police officer was released from the hospital. Hudson is being held in jail on $10,000 bail.
The next Board of Education meeting takes place Monday.
