Tuscaloosa County Commissioner Charged With 3 Misdemeanors Over Altercation at School

A Tuscaloosa County Commissioner who has served in that role for nearly 30 years was charged criminally on Wednesday in the aftermath of an altercation with a school resource officer yesterday morning.

As the Thread previously reported, County Commissioner Reginald Murray was taken to the ground, handcuffed, and threatened with a Taser during an incident which was shared widely on social media Tuesday morning.

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In the aftermath, the Tuscaloosa Police Department issued a statement that said Murray caused a disturbance during a school awards program at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, although they did not identify the county commissioner by name.

They said he arrived too late to be allowed into the performance and began knocking on the door to the locked auditorium, trying to be let inside.

A TPD school resource officer told Murray and others that they would not be allowed inside, then stepped to meet them in the lobby when Murray continued knocking at the auditorium door, according to TPD.

"The officer then stepped out into the lobby to remove him from the school property. The individual was not compliant and actively resisted the officer," TPD said in their statement. "During the course of the incident, the officer followed standard de-escalation protocols, which included multiple verbal warnings and the display of a Taser. The Taser was not deployed. The officer followed standard procedures to ensure the safety and order of the school environment. No arrest was made. Our priority is and always will be the safety and security of our students and staff."

Murray is one of four commissioners elected to represent the almost 250,000 constituents of Tuscaloosa County and whose policies primarily affect those who live in unincorporated areas outside of Tuscaloosa and Northport. Probate Judge Rob Robertson chairs the commission.

Murray has represented the county's southwestern corner in District 4 since 1996, with constituents in Ralph, Romulus, Fosters, and other rural communities.

Although Murray was not charged criminally in the immediate aftermath of the altercation on Tuesday morning, on Wednesday, city officials sought and obtained a warrant charging the county commissioner with three misdemeanors - disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental operations. He turned himself in to officers on Wednesday afternoon and was released on bond.

A second man will also face charges who was filming the altercation and using foul language.

“Our officer responded appropriately to maintain the safety and order of the school environment,” said TPD Chief Brent Blankley. “As always, our priority Tuesday morning was the safety of students, staff and visitors. Once everything had calmed down and we had the opportunity to review what happened, we decided it was appropriate to move forward with charges for disrupting a school function.”

The Tuscaloosa City School Board also released a statement on Wednesday condemning the behavior that led to the altercation and supporting the actions of the School Resource Officer.

"In response to the incident that occurred during an awards program at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School on Tuesday, I feel compelled to share the perspective of the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education. Parents and families are always welcome in our schools. Their involvement is essential to building strong school communities and supporting student achievement," said Eric Wilson, board chair. "However, we also have clear safety protocols and procedures in place to protect students and staff and to ensure school events operate without disruption. These rules apply to everyone and must be followed at all times."

"We fully support our administrators and appreciate the professionalism shown by school staff and the Tuscaloosa Police Department in handling the situation appropriately," he said. "We do not condone the behavior or language seen in video footage from the event. Such actions are not aligned with the values of our school system and do not reflect the respectful environment we work to uphold. Our commitment remains strong: to foster schools that are safe, welcoming, and orderly—for every student, every day."

For more coverage of local news in west Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.