Man, 22, hits Harrison Morton principal, police say

An Allentown man is accused of assaulting Harrison Morton Middle School’s acting principal last week while the administrator was attempting to break up a fight between students after the school’s dismissal, according to authorities.

Dyhmir White-Brown, 22, hit Arcelius Brickhouse while he was separating two students who were fighting at the school Thursday, police wrote in court documents.

White-Brown is charged with aggravated assault and simple assault. He is free after posting $5,000 bail.

According to police, White-Brown and his family were at the school about 2:30 p.m. because a family member who is a sixth grade student was allegedly being harassed by a boy in the school. Another family member of White-Brown’s, an eighth grade boy, “squared up” with the alleged harasser, prompting Brickhouse to try and separate them, charging documents state.

White-Brown hit Brickhouse while the administrator was separating the students, police said. Surveillance footage showed White-Brown hitting the back of Brickhouse’s head four times, according to authorities. Brickhouse told the responding officer, the school resource officer, that he was not injured.

The Allentown School District said in a statement that the incident was addressed quickly, and there was no threat to students, staff or the community.

“Out of respect for the school leader’s privacy, we are unable to provide additional information regarding their condition, but they are receiving appropriate care,” the statement reads. White-Brown was not authorized to be on school property, according to officials.

City police filed charges Thursday, and White-Brown was arraigned on them that night. He did not have an attorney listed for him Tuesday.

Brickhouse, who is also the school district’s executive director of instructional leadership, has been Harrison-Morton’s acting principal since the previous principal, Stephanie Williams, was placed on leave following an incident at a city park in September. She later resigned, saying that the incident was related to mental health struggles.