Dalton teacher waives appearance
The teacher who allegedly barricaded himself in a classroom at Dalton High School on Wednesday and fired a shot out the window will be waiving his right to a first appearance before a magistrate.
Attorney Richard Murray contacted the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office to notify law enforcement about the decision by his client, Jesse Randal Davidson, according to a spokesman for the sheriff’s office.
“We have been in contact with Magistrate Court regarding this request, and we have confirmed that it is a right of the accused to waive this appearance and that the court recognizes this practice,” said Wes Lynch, a captain in the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office.
“While we cannot absolutely confirm the date, we have been told by Magistrate Court personnel that Mr. Davidson should have an appearance in Whitfield County Superior Court on Tuesday of next week,” he added.
Dalton police charged Davidson, 53, with aggravated assault, carrying a weapon on school grounds, terroristic threats, reckless conduct, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and disrupting a public school.
Wednesday’s incident in Dalton is only the most recent in a string of threats to student safety local law enforcement agencies have investigated in the weeks since the Parkland, Fla., shooting in which 17 students and adults were killed. Locally, incidents have popped up in Hamilton County, Bradley County, Meigs County, Catoosa County and Chattanooga and multiple students have been arrested.
Threats ranging from written notes to posts on social media have caused concern for school officials, who have been navigating those threats through lockdowns and drills with members of law enforcement, who are searching for the best ways to deter such violence.
Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond released a statement Thursday concerning that effort, saying agencies are being “forced to re-evaluate the safety of our students and how we address violence in our public schools.”
Hammond said his office is exploring a number of ideas that could contribute to the safety of local students, but indicated one of his primary objectives is to add to the 31 school resource officers currently working in 29 schools in Hamilton County.
“The issue with hiring more SRO’s for our public schools boils down to one issue, funding. In order to add SRO’s to all of our local public schools would add a huge additional burden to taxpayers that could potentially reach upwards four to five million dollars,” he said in the written statement. “Therefore, until this funding is secured, as Sheriff I must consider every viable option to keep our children and our schools safe.”
He stated other options include facility improvements and even arming teachers, although he said that is not his first choice.
“Some of the options that have been offered include enhanced security and surveillance systems, newer schools designed with safe rooms and secure locations for students, bullet resistant windows and doors and locking devices, and yes, even the possibility of giving teachers the opportunity to be armed,” he stated.
“The [latter] would of course require not only a change to state law, but would also require extensive … training and intensive background checks, similar to those performed for law enforcement personnel.”
Dalton High School was closed Thursday, but school officials announced plans to resume classes today.
“Dalton High School will resume classes tomorrow, March 2, on a regular C Day schedule,” Dalton Public Schools tweeted. “Counselors, social workers and professionals from our Student Assistance Program with Hamilton Medical Center will be available for any student who needs support.”