Cops: 2 Female Teachers Arrested for Fighting During School

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Two female middle school teachers were arrested Wednesday on charges they got into a fight in front of students, officials said.

Eighth grade teachers Tawana Horton, 30, and Cambrella Pinckney, 28, bumped into each other during a hallway class change Friday afternoon at St. Andrews Middle School and began fighting, according to a report by the Richland County sheriff's department.

The two teachers told an officer that they had an ongoing personal dispute, the report said.

The teachers were charged with disturbing schools and have been placed on administrative leave, deputies said.

"This occurred with students on the scene and they witnessed what happened," Richland School District 1 spokeswoman Karen York. "Teachers are looked at as role models. That doesn't set a good example."

Pinckney did not immediately return a message left at her home. A phone number for Horton could not be found. Deputies did not know if either of the women had attorneys.

York would not discuss if any disciplinary action had been taken against the teachers, but said officials are investigating the fight.

Possible punishments range from a letter of reprimand to firing, she said.

The two women have not returned to the school since the incident occurred, York said.

Horton taught at the school for one year, while Pinckney taught there for three years, York said.