Woman charged with attacking teacher

wrote in an affidavit. “... and stated she would turn herself in on Tuesday.”

District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. requires Pittsburgh police to receive a prosecutor’s approval on many felony charges before they are filed and keeps someoneon call 24/7 for that purpose.

Spokesman Mike Manko said Thursday that the officers called the wrong number.

“Pittsburgh Police and 911 are given a phone list identifying the person and number to be called,” Mr. Manko said in a statement. “In this case, contrary to written instructions, Pittsburgh Police called the wrong person and the wrongnumber.”

Police spokeswoman Sonya Toler acknowledged Thursday that the officers erred during the interaction.

“Yes, officers made a mistake and the matter has been addressed so the mistake is not repeated,” she said, declining to elaborate.

Ebony Pugh, spokeswoman for Pittsburgh Public Schools, called the assault troubling.

“Violence of any kind against a PPS staff member or citizen is unacceptable, and the individuals responsible must be held accountable for such horrifying behavior,” she said in a statement.

Nina Esposito-Visgitis, president of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, said the attack was the most horrific event she has had to address during her six years as president.

“Janice is a dedicated and wellrespected part of the King community— she is a magnificent person and professional,” she said in a statement.

“No educator should ever have to deal with this blatant disrespect of our profession or of our humanity.”

Ms. Watkins could not be reached to comment. Ms. Pugh declined to comment on when Ms. Watkins plans to return to school or whether there are any disciplinary proceedings related to a particular student, citing the ongoingpolice investigation.

The district does have a cell phone policy that prohibits students from turning on their phones or using them in the classroom, she said, but it varies from school to school how the policy is enforced.

Teachers are permitted to confiscate cell phones if they think it’s appropriate, Ms. Pugh said.