Alamance County is dealing with a perturbing incident involving an educator and student altercation. Last Thursday, 50-year-old Derek Tang, a middle school teacher, was charged with simple assault after a reported physical confrontation with a student at Turrentine Middle School. CBS 17 states that the incident is being treated as "isolated," with no other students identified as involved.
The Burlington Police Department took immediate action upon receiving information about the incident, resulting in Tang's arrest and a $1,500 secured bond. As the Burlington Police Department appeals to the community, anyone with information is asked to come forward, offering anonymous tips through Alamance County-Wide Crimestoppers or the P3 Tips app, as per WXII 12.
Having been part of the Alamance-Burlington School System since 2014 initially as a substitute, Tang transitioned to a full-time teaching position at Turrentine Middle School in 2019. After the assault charge, he has been suspended with pay. Ensuring cooperation with the investigation, the district has been transparent with law enforcement, as mentioned in a statement given toWRAL.
While the finer details of the altercation remain private, the identity and age of the student have been withheld, preserving the ongoing investigation's integrity. With a lack of a publicly available mug shot, Tang's case is processed through the legal system. Those who wish to support the police's inquiry are welcome to contact the Burlington Police Department directly or report via the offered anonymous channels.
