D.A. Office's Emergency Motion Revokes Bond, Suspect In Teacher Assault Called A 'Danger To Community'
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The second suspect accused of attacking a Pittsburgh Public elementary school teacher is now in police custody, and his girlfriend also remains behind bars despite reports she was getting out of jail.
Vincent Beasley, 26, turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon, a day after charges were filed against him in connection with the assault of a Pittsburgh King PreK-8 elementary school teacher.
Beasley's attorney said his client tried to break up the incident, which happened near the West End Bridge.
"These two ladies engaged in an assaultive behavior, and he rushed in to try and separate the two of them," said defense attorney Al Burke.
Beasley's girlfriend, 29-year-old Dai'Shonta Williams, was arrested and charged last week in the case. She posted her $50,000 bond on Monday and was scheduled to be released from the Allegheny County Jail today, but the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office filed an emergency motion to halt her release.
The motion revoked Williams' bond. The D.A.'s Office has requested a bond modification hearing believing her to be "a danger to the community," so she will remain in jail.
Williams is the mother of a fourth grader at the school where the victim, 46-year-old Janice Watkins, teaches.
Investigators say it all stemmed from an incident at the school when Watkins confiscated a cell phone from Williams' daughter.
Williams reportedly did not like how the situation was handled, and allegedly said of Watkins, "She is going to get it later." The little girl accused the teacher of trying to choke her, and officials say the girl bit Watkins.
Later, investigators say Watkins was driving home along Ohio River Boulevard. While sitting in traffic on the West End exit off-ramp, she noticed a black male and female get out of their vehicle. Watkins' driver's side window was down as she was speaking to her mother on the phone.
The woman approached Watkins' car and allegedly threw a brick through the open window. Watkins was struck in the head. She said after she was hit, the woman opened her door, dragged her out in the road and began punching and kicking her.
Watkins is still recovering from her injuries.
Meanwhile, Williams and Beasley remains in jail. A bond hearing for Williams is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday in Judge Jeffery Manning's chambers.