A 32-year-old man has been charged with battery to a school district officer in relation to the beating of a MATC security guard Nov. 16.
According to a criminal complaint, a witness heard the guard tell David Starks to leave the building and came outside the classroom to see David Starks holding the guard in a choke hold.
The guard told authorities that Starks admitted to not having business in the building but refused to leave. The situation escalated when the guard followed Starks throughout the building and Starks later poked and shoved the man, the guard said.
The guard said he responded by restraining Starks against the wall and was then pushed backwards, hitting his head on a doorframe.
Responding officers say they entered the scene to see Starks and the security guard on the floor. Starks bit both officers during the arrest.
In a later statement, Starks said he is a former MATC student and was in the building trying to receive certificates. According to his statement, he refused to leave because he felt that he was being wrongly judged.
If convicted, Starks faces a $10,000 fine, or a sentence of three and a half years or both.
