PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a physical confrontation in progress in the parking lot of Northwood High School in Pittsboro last Tuesday morning. Student Resource Officers (SROs) on campus immediately responded to the parking lot where they encountered multiple students and adults engaged in a physical altercation.
Because of the nature of the incident, Northwood High School was placed under a precautionary lockdown Tuesday as additional units responded to separate and interview all parties. The scene was quickly secured and restrictions were lifted to allow all students to transition as usual to their next classes. No weapons were involved and no medical attention was required.
“Students’ safety and well-being is Chatham County Schools’ top priority,” said Chatham County Schools spokesperson Nancy Wykle. “We are grateful to the Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this matter and their continued partnership with the district. Any students involved will be held accountable following board policy guidelines and the Student Code of Civility. Adults involved are no longer allowed on school grounds. We will continue to follow our safety processes and the protocols we have in place to protect the security of our students and staff.”
Sheriff Mike Roberson commends his deputies as well as members of the Pittsboro Police Department, who responded due to the school’s location within city limits, for working swiftly to contain the incident and charge those responsible for the disturbance.
Two adults and two juveniles have been implicated in the incident.
The adults, Nashawna Sheree Bagley, 47, of 127 Broadmoor Dr., Apt. 207, Pittsboro, and Gloria Ellen Young, 43, of 1140 West 3rd St., Siler City, are accused of physically assaulting one another and have each been criminally charged with simple assault, affray, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. They are due to appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on Oct. 19.
“We will not tolerate violent acts or unruly disruptions in or around our schools,” Roberson says. “As adults, we are responsible for providing our children with safe, inclusive and constructive learning environments. We must model respect, professionalism and kindness to one another in all that we do in order to cultivate those same behaviors in our homes and schools.”