TCS Issues Statement After Incident At School Involving Tuscaloosa County Commissioner

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education has issued a statement following an incident Tuesday involving Tuscaloosa County District 4 Commissioner Reginald Murray, who was handcuffed by a Tuscaloosa Police officer during an awards program at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School.

Click here to subscribe to our free Tuscaloosa Daily newsletter and breaking news alerts

As Patch previously reported, video of the encounter that circulated on social media shows Murray handcuffed and threatened with a Taser during the altercation.

The Tuscaloosa Police Department said the school’s exterior doors had been secured in accordance with district safety policy and an officer asked Murray to leave after he entered the lobby area.

TPD said an officer inside the auditorium cracked the door and informed Murray that he could not enter during the program.

When Murray refused to leave, police said he resisted efforts to escort him out.

TPD then said the officer used verbal de-escalation commands and displayed a Taser, which was not deployed.

Murray was later handcuffed but not arrested, and police confirmed Tuesday that no charges were filed.

In a statement Wednesday, Tuscaloosa City Board of Education President Eric Wilson reaffirmed the district’s commitment to safety while addressing the controversy surrounding the video.

“Parents and families are always welcome in our schools,” Wilson said. “Their involvement is essential to building strong school communities and supporting student achievement. However, we also have clear safety protocols and procedures in place to protect students and staff and to ensure school events operate without disruption.”

Wilson went on to say that the board “fully supports our administrators” and “appreciates the professionalism shown by school staff and the Tuscaloosa Police Department in handling the situation appropriately.”

“We do not condone the behavior or language seen in video footage from the event,” Wilson said. “Such actions are not aligned with the values of our school system and do not reflect the respectful environment we work to uphold.”

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.