November 27, 2002

By Lee Hubbard

The San Francisco District Attorney's Office has dropped charges against Thurgood Marshall Academic High School teacher Anthony Peebles. Peebles was charged with battery on an officer, interfering with an arrest, and suspicion of inciting a riot, after he witnessed and videotaped the Oct. 11 student and police conflict at the school.

But Peebles isn't certain if the city's school system will let him return to work.

Peebles was thrust into the spotlight after police responded to a student fight. More than 60 officers responded to the incident at the Bayview District school, which involved both African American and Asian students. Peebles said he got involved when he tried to break up the fight.

"I went outside, and I saw all of these police with students handcuffed, and I wanted to know what was going on," Peebles told the Bay Guardian shortly after the incident. "I walked into the [main] office, and I then saw a girl student thrown out of the door by the police, face first."

Peebles responded to the officers by first questioning them and then recording what was happening. The 29-year-old teacher, though, was soon arrested.

"Mr. Peebles was arrested as a scapegoat for what happened," said public defender-elect Jeff Adachi, who is serving as Peebles's attorney.

Four days after the incident, Peebles was placed on administrative leave by the San Francisco Unified School District, and he doesn't know when he will be allowed to go back to work.

"The school district is still investigating the incident," Peebles said.

Jenna Snow, a spokesperson with the SFUSD, didn't give a time for Peebles's reinstatement, saying the district is looking into what happened Oct. 11 and Peebles's conduct.

"He is on paid administrative leave pending the investigation by the district," Snow said.

When asked when the decision will be made on Peebles's reinstatement, Snow said she didn't have the answer to that.

According to Peebles, the SFUSD is reviewing the videotape of the day's events. In the meantime, he says, he has received news of encouragement from students and certain faculty members.