Mom says son arrested, released after fight with teacher in West Memphis

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — A West Memphis mother says her 13-year-old son was arrested after a fight with a teacher, but later released with all charges dropped.

Friday was the start of a nightmare for Caderia Watkins and her son, an 8th grader at Wonder Junior High School in West Memphis.

“I got a call around 1 p.m., and it wasn’t from the school, it was from the juvenile detention,” said Watkins. “Every night he’s jumping out of his sleep thinking of Friday when that coach put his hands on him.”

Watkins says her son ended his second week of school but won’t be back, after he was allegedly arrested, charged with battery, then released.

“You arrested him in front of all his peers. That’s embarrassing,” she said. “He was crying. He was raging and then take him to jail and not charge him, it traumatized him.”

The only information she has is what her son told her. She says a girl shared a video with a teacher and said her son was vaping.

“I guess the coach got mad,” Watkins said, and claims that from there, things got out of control.

“He choked him, I guess, and my son dropped his backpack and they got to tussling,” Watkins said.

We reached out to the district and they confirm an incident between a student and faculty member happened on Friday, but say all details are under investigation.

“An incident between a student and faculty member at Wonder Jr. High School occurred Friday, August 9. Since the investigation is ongoing, we cannot provide further information until the investigation is complete. At this time no charges have been filed,” the district said in a statement.

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